Behind the scenes at Wilder Doddington

Discover how nature is recovering in Wilder parts of the estate

Join our project manager, Isobel Wright for a gentle 2-2½ hour walk, to see the beginnings of our Wilder Doddington project. Following a briefing in the covered wagon shed you will leave the public rights of way and walk into the private part of the estate.

We are embarking on a 100 year journey to bring nature back to Doddington. After several decades of intensive farming of our cropped land we are taking the brakes off and allowing nature to recover. 

During late 2022 we started letting cattle roam more freely and graze fields that used to be cropped, and you will see the impact they are having.  You may spot the newly arrived Mangalitza pigs brought in for their enthusiasm for rootling the ground.  We will walk through some of our existing oases of nature, that we are encouraging to spread. Depending on the weather and what we have seen in the previous days we may take a spade to look for earthworms, or a net for pond life, look for harvest mouse nests or we may peek into a dung pat for beetles! Whilst we can’t guarantee wildlife we hope there will be Yellowhammer, Buzzard, Goldfinches, hare, maybe even deer and grass snakes.

Approximate duration: 2-2½ hours

£30 per person

All guests must be over 16yrs. We cannot accommodate unaccompanied guests under 18yrs.

Booking essential, places are limited to 14 per group.

Meeting point is in front of the Wagon Shed – please see map that also shows free parking.

• Whatever the weather we will take a leisurely walk at a moderate pace with frequent stops.
• A degree of fitness is needed to cope with walking on uneven ground. Approximate walking distance, including walking over fields is 4km. 
• Please dress appropriately for the weather and ground conditions. Whatever the weather long trousers and long sleeves along with sturdy footwear are a requirement for a comfortable walk where we may encounter damp fields and brambles. Bring waterproofs if wet or cold. 
• Please bring refreshments if you think you may need them.
• Due to uneven terrain these tours are not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
• Dogs are not permitted as we are protecting ground nesting birds – Assistance dogs only
• All guests must be over 12yrs. We cannot accommodate unaccompanied guests under 18yrs.
• Please note that tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable

Our behind the scenes tours are also available by foot or minibus:

We are running a series of events throughout the year so we can all enjoy the changing seasons: