Landscape Statement – Vision

We have been custodians of various parts of the Archerfield Estate since the late 1960s. We continue to own and manage eighty hectares which includes mature forestry, farmland, a Georgian Walled Garden and fifteen rental properties. Our vision for the land we own is to sensitively farm the arable land, positively manage our woodlands, and repair and conserve our properties for the enjoyment of future generations.

As part of a farm diversification project, our aim has been to sensitively restore the derelict Georgian Walled Garden and its surrounds to provide an enterprising and accessible café and shop creating a high-quality destination for locals and visitors from further afield alike and creating jobs for over eighty people.

We actively encourage use of our estate and garden by community groups, school groups, and local volunteer networks to contribute to knowledge learning and sharing, and the provision of well-being through nature.

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How does this project deliver the principles of the charter?

1. Collaboration

We work closely with local community groups to provide facilities for use. We support local schools and playgroups and Dirleton Market on the Green, which provides high quality goods at an accessible market to an ageing rural population. We work with East Lothian Council Ranger Service on the provision of learning activities for children and adults.

We host the annual Edinburgh Taxi Outing where over one hundred taxis bring differently abled children on a scenic drive ending in fun activities on the Estate.

We host a weekly Junior Park run which regularly attracts over eighty runners and who have just celebrated their fourth birthday.

We have worked closely with Heriot Watt University and Dirleton Primary School on the provision of the Solar Walk – a scale model of the universe with the Sun located in the local village of Dirleton 1km away and Neptune at Archerfield Walled Garden – showcased at an annual Wonders of Space event.

2. Dynamism

We have been caretakers of the land at Archerfield since the early 1970s. Since 2013, we have worked to restore the Georgian Walled Garden on the estate which provides fruit, vegetables and herbs for our Garden Café emphasising the ‘garden to plate principle’.

Our Garden Team, helped by enthusiastic volunteers, have transformed the area from bare earth in 2014 to a thriving garden with lots of benefits for wildlife and a showcase for diversity.

We care for a wildlife area with pond, rose and scented garden, perennial meadow with fruit trees, cutting beds and ornamental borders including a water-saving border. Beyond the Walled Garden we have hot borders, live willow structures, and meadow plantings. In the garden we practice: No Dig – Mulching – Chemical free gardening – Dead-hedges and bug houses – Chop and Drop clear ups – Homemade compost and plant foods – Collection of rainwater.

We recycle and upcycle using estate brash to make dead-hedges, horse manure and wool packaging as mulch for fruit trees/rose mulch, and we compost coffee grounds from the café, weeds in plant feed, pallets from deliveries and cardboard from packaging, and use estate grown willow and birch for plant supports.

The garden is free to all, educationally as a team we are always happy to explain why we do things and how we care for the environment.

3. Diversity

We retain the last remaining thirty hectares of farmland at Archerfield and have been farming regeneratively for over 5 years using techniques that are innovative in Scotland and further afield. We consider best practice advice along with practical considerations for producing a regeneratively farmed crop with a decent return – meaning we are often an example of gold standard in this sector. We use beneficial microbes to improve soil health, therefore reducing the amount of fertiliser used and creating a more resilient, disease resistant crop.

Having completed Net Zero training, we are reassessing our Carbon Footprint to reflect the mitigative effects that our positive farming activities, woodland management practices and recent investment in two hundred solar panels and four electric vehicle charging points at the shop and café have on our wider landholding.

We have hosted the East Lothian Climate Hub: Healthy Soil for Growing and Nature convention, donated plants to numerous schools and community groups and delivered information sessions and lessons to schools on Where Our Food Comes from and Estate Management.

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What's Next

We are in the process of designing and creating a children’s play trail with five elemental themed areas which will be accessible and will encourage the provision of outdoor education through play in nature. There will be a learning hub available for use by community and school groups.

More about this project

Image Credits:

Archerfield Estates