Rushmore’s woodland extends to approximately 2,000 acres and a good proportion lies within the Cranborne Chase Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Although it can appear a quiet and tranquil place, it is also a hive of activity with coppice craftsman at work, alongside traditional woodland management, leisure, and sporting interests.
Our woodlands are crossed with public rights of way for all to enjoy, in addition permissive rights of way have been granted by the trustees of the Rushmore Estate so that more of the landscape can be enjoyed.
The woodland at Rushmore is subject to a carefully considered management program which aims to deliver both superior biodiversity outcomes and a profitable and productive woodland. We have been successful in doing just this by adopting a management technique known as Irregular Silviculture which moves away from the classic ‘clear fell and restock’ principles towards an approach which selects individual trees for harvesting at optimum intervals and relies on the natural regeneration of local trees to replenish those harvested.