Great Cansiron Holistic Trust
490 acres of farmland, woodland and pasture in the High Weald, taken out of conventional arable farming and held in trust for good.
in trust
conversion
woodland
490 acres between Holtye and Hammerwood
Great Cansiron Farm sits on the A264 near Holtye Common, east of East Grinstead. Until 2024 it was an arable farm growing autumn-sown crops.
In September 2024 the trust bought it. The trust is a charitable Community Benefit Society, so the land is held permanently for farming, nature and education, not for profit.
Tablehurst, a biodynamic farm in Forest Row for over thirty years, now farms the southern 270 acres. The northern block is managed for nature.
What we’re doing
Three pieces of work, at three speeds. Farming has started. Nature recovery is under way. Education has barely begun.
Biodynamic conversion
270 acres going biodynamic, farmed by Tablehurst.
Water, hedgerows, habitat
The northern block under stewardship agreements to December 2027.
Open days and neighbours
Site visits, a neighbours’ group, and room on the board.
Farming
Biodynamic conversion
Tablehurst rents around 270 acres of the southern block and is converting it to biodynamic management. Soil farmed conventionally takes years to change. The herbal leys going in now are the start.
The trust is registered with the Soil Association.
Nature
Nature recovery
The northern block is under Sustainable Farming Incentive and stewardship agreements to December 2027. Since the chemicals stopped, bird numbers have risen.
Current and planned work
- Re-wilding the Shovelstrode stream and re-wetting parts of the land
- Hedgerow and tree surveys
- Mink trapping, to protect ground-nesting birds and water voles
We work with several environmental organisations on this.
People
Education and community
Public education is in the trust’s objects, and it’s the part we’re building most slowly. For now: open days, site visits, and talking to neighbours.
If you teach or run land-based learning, get in touch.
Come and see it
We want to meet neighbours, and anyone working in planning, ecology, land management or regeneration. Or anyone who’s curious.
Saturday 3 October, 1pm to 5pm
Community Gathering
Hear what’s happened at Great Cansiron this year, and where it’s going. Talks, light refreshments, and the option to walk the land.
No need to RSVP, but it’s welcome, as are questions in advance. Donations accepted on the day.
- Talks
- 1:15pm and 3:30pm
- Walks
- 2:30pm (40 minutes) and 4pm (60 minutes)
- Where
- Grain Store, Great Cansiron Holistic Trust, TN8 7ED
- what3words
- noted.lazy.clear
- Wear
- Boots. The ground holds water.
Neighbours
If you live nearby
There’s a WhatsApp group for people around the farm: news, walks, the odd request for help. Email us and we’ll add you.
Membership
Become a member
The trust has members, not shareholders, and answers to them. We’re still working out what membership involves. Email us if you’d like to know when it’s settled.
Trustees
Join the board
We need more trustees, especially people with experience in ecology, land management, farming, finance or charity governance, and people who live locally. It’s unpaid. Email us and we’ll tell you what’s involved.
Newsletter
Stay in touch
Twice a year: what’s happened on the land, what’s coming. That’s it.
We only use your address for the newsletter. Email greatcansironht@gmail.com and we’ll remove it.
Support the trust
The land is bought. What it needs now is slower work: surveying hedgerows and trees, re-wilding the stream, holding water in the landscape, trapping mink so ground-nesting birds and water voles stand a chance.
Farm rent and government schemes pay for some of it. Donations pay for the rest, and make it happen sooner.
Where the money goes
Great Cansiron Holistic Trust is a charitable Community Benefit Society, FCA number RS009383. The land is held for community benefit, not private gain. No one takes a dividend. The accounts are filed with the FCA and public.
Get in touch
Email greatcansironht@gmail.com. We’re a small volunteer board, so a reply may take a few days.
Visiting
It’s a working farm and mostly not open day to day. The best way to see it is the gathering on 3 October. If you’ve a particular reason to visit, email us.
Your information
We use your details only to reply, or to send what you asked for. We don’t share them. Email us and we’ll delete them.