How we use our land
For almost a century the land and estate at Dartington have been used for research and exploration of new agricultural processes.
Today a regenerative approach is at the heart of everything we do. It supports healthy soils, creates rich wildlife habitat and nurtures the growing community of students, visitors and small enterprises who have come here because they wish to have a deeper connection with the land.
We have a number of tenants who run enterprises using the land to produce food, fungi or flowers or for therapeutic benefit. They also offer real world learning opportunities for students at Schumacher College and Dartington School of Arts.
We have also expanded our outdoor classrooms and research areas and set aside 17 acres through our New Entrant Farming Enterprise Programme to help the next generation of producers who might otherwise find it difficult to access land.
Conservation at Dartington
From dormice to hedgerows and everything in between, conservation work plays a major part in Dartington estate life.
Powered by renewables
A significant proportion of Dartington’s energy is produced via renewables, in the form of our 950kw biomass boiler and 500kh(p) solar-PV array.
Food, farming and conservation blogs
Plea for dog owners to take care around livestock
“I have been hit with sticks, I have had stones thrown at me and I have been spat at” – our tenant farmer issues a plea for visitors to help protect his livelihood.
Vision for Dartington Estate to become a food hub for south Devon
We catch up with Tara Vaughan-Hughes, Food Lead for Dartington Trust, whose culinary influences are inspired by her native home in rural Vermont, USA.
In praise of soils: World Soil Day
Happy World Soil Day! Our Conservation and Land Manager writes on the importance of soil, plus watch a special video message from the Head Gardener at Schumacher College.
Food in Community report massive surge in demand
A group based on the Dartington estate has provided the equivalent of around 125,000 meals for people on low incomes since lockdown began in March.
New wine programme announced
A new programme of courses in wine and wine-making are to be launched by the Dartington Trust, with the help of leading wine expert Justin Howard-Sneyd.
From Mexico City to Dartington: Meeting Rafael Pompa
Since taking up the role of Gardens, Conservation and Land Manager at Dartington Trust ealier this year, ‘Raf’ has been facing up to the challenges of managing a 1,200-acre estate in a time of Covid-19. We went to see how he’s getting on…
Dartington estate revealed as home for 19 ‘at risk’ fungi
The recent UK Fungus Day prompted our Gardens, Conservation and Land Manager, Rafa, to embark on a quest to find the striking and not-so-common Earthstars (Geastrum fornicatum). Here’s how he got on…
Could our new undergraduate degree help shape farming’s future?
Our Schumacher College has launched Britain’s first degree in Regenerative Food and Farming – with the aim of enabling people who want to make a lasting difference to agriculture, from the grassroots up.
Could you take over our kitchen for a night?
We’re launching Kitchen Takeovers – a series of mid-week, rotating pop-ups where we’ll offer up our kitchen and restaurant for local chefs to exercise their talent – and we need you!
Help save a mighty mini-beast from extinction
Budding bug-hunters around Dartington and Totnes are needed to help track one of the rarest ants in England by taking part in the Nest Quest Survey.