Introducing the estate team

1 min read

Jan 26 2026

Rewilding may be a self-sustaining process, but it still requires a team to ensure everything is growing correctly. Introducing the Estate Team: the backbone of Belmont and the ones physically changing its roots. Let’s learn more about the Estate Team and their roles by hearing from Luke, our Estate and Nature Recovery Manager, as well as the Team: Will, Felix, Andy, and Paul.

What are the main jobs the estate team does?

Number one priority daily is always going to be livestock and animal husbandry. We have Tamworth pigs, our Devon ‘Ruby’ Red cattle herd, Exmoor Horn sheep, chickens, guinea fowl and our visiting Dartmoor. It would be easy to assume a rewilding project would just be left to nature, but it’s very hands-on, especially when delivering our BNG habitats.

Luke, Estate and Nature Recovery Manager

We’re always looking at things and thinking how could we make that better, or more exciting for nature, doing lots of little tweaks alongside our bigger projects. For instance, we’ve just put in a new lowland meadow at Watercress Farm as part of our BNG requirements and planted an orchard last year.

What skills are required?

A can-do attitude. Ability to think on your feet and to adapt, working in all weather conditions. You need confidence in driving machinery, such as the tractor, and most of the team have chainsaw licences. There are also other useful skills and tickets that can be learnt, for instance using the Telehandler.

It’s difficult to fully describe what a sick animal looks like; that understanding comes with experience and time spent observing livestock and wildlife. Animals tell you things in a weird way, and you’ll begin to learn certain symptoms and signs once you take notice. For example, a cow dissociating herself from the herd might mean she’s about to give birth.

Patience is crucial; when you plant a tree it is unlikely you will see it in fruition. To do the job effectively, you must want to be a part of the whole project. This isn’t a nine-to-five, and no two days are the same.

what’s your Favourite animal on the Estate?

Seeing the barn owl on the drive in the half light of winter – Felix

Ruby the cow – Paul

Our new pigs – Andy

The buzzard that lives on the Avenue – Will

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT FROM THIS JOB?

Working for great people is really rewarding. Take Tam and Bill, cut them through the middle, and they’ve got nature written inside their blood. Everything they do they mean full heartedly and they are the driving force behind this brilliant estate. I’ve worked at previous estates where maybe they’ve talked the talk, but they haven’t walked the walk – Luke

The roundhouse was a project that required a lot of learning on the job about sustainable, natural building techniques and was a pleasure to work on – Felix

That I have a love for old maps and history – Will

What is your favourite spot on the estate?

The wetlands on a frosty morning, with shards of sunshine dancing through the mist and illuminating the mosaic of life in front of me – Andy

Pear drop, it feels a thousand miles from Bristol – Will

The sidings is a reminder of the wonderful succession that can happen when you let things be wild – Felix

On the track round towards firewood alley, above the compost bays. There’s an old wall that is very mossy and has roots growing on it and ferns – Paul

ONE WORD TO SUM UP THE JOB?

Variety – Felix

Multifaceted – Will

Rewarding – Paul

Varied – Andy

Lifestyle. Not a job, it’s a lifestyle – Luke

Felix, Will, and Andy with our Ruby Red cows

Photos by Martin Hartley.