Reconnecting the past: how the landowner of Racecourse Farm is restoring his grandfather鈥檚 woodland
Landowner restores woodland through the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO), planting 23,015 native trees to reconnect fragmented habitats and offset carbon.
Racecourse听Farm takes its name from the horse racing track that听operated听on the site in the early 1900s.听When Jonathan Capener inherited听the听196-hectare听farm听from his father听in 2023, he saw an opportunity to heal a听fragmented landscape.听听
His project, supported by EWCO,听has seen 23,015 native trees including oak, field maple, hazel and Scots pine planted across 12.26 hectares.
Key facts
- site:听Racecourse Farm, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire听
- size: 196-hectare farm, with planting across听12.26 hectares
- type:听native broadleaf and conifer听
- species mix:听oak, field maple,听hazel听and听scots听pine听
- date planted:听2024听
- grant: EWCO听
Objective
Enhance biodiversity, restore historic woodland听areas听and improve habitats. The scheme also aims to offset carbon for the landowner鈥檚听other听business.
Restoring and reconnecting fragmented woodlands听
In recent decades,听Racecourse Farm has been听managed primarily for shooting, with woodlands being fragmented to create better sight听lines and听improved听shooting opportunities. This heritage shaped听the farm听as Jonathan knows it.听听
His vision centres on transforming these scattered woodland patches back into a well-managed forest ecosystem. The project听focuses on restoring听Bentilee听Wood to听its听historic boundaries, alongside replanting听Oxhay听wood 鈥� a 6.7ha area that was felled in the 1940s but never replanted. By reconnecting听these woodland fragments, the project is听restoring听the landscape.听
View of newly planted trees that link up with neighbouring areas of established woods. Copyright: Robinson Forestry Ltd
Jonathan Capener, landowner, said:
This work is helping to restore the woodland to how it may have looked in my grandfather鈥檚 time.听It鈥檚听an important step听in managing the land for the future.
Enhancing听biodiversity听and听offsetting听carbon for a听sustainable听future听
The restoration work听focused听on creating continuity between woodland habitats, creating wildlife corridors which allows species to move freely across the landscape for the first time in generations.听听
There is a further听0.24ha听shelterbelt听that鈥檚听been听planted to screen the nearby Keele听Services lorry park听from a neighbouring farmhouse.听听
The project听serves a dual purpose beyond conservation. As a business owner, Jonathan is working to address his company鈥檚 carbon footprint, and the woodland creation at Racecourse Farm provides a natural solution. He estimates that the restored woodlands will sequester around 3,500 tonnes of carbon over the next century through new tree growth and improved management processes.
Working with natural challenges听
The project required navigating archaeology features, active听badger setts, underground gas听pipelines听and a small resident deer herd. Jonathan carefully planned his woodland project to work with nature and navigate these existing conditions.听听
The species selection process used听Forest Research鈥檚听听which analyses soil conditions, climate听data听and drainage听to听help inform species selection.听Crucially, the听selection听considered听climate change projections for 2080, ensuring the听newly听planted听trees thrive as conditions change.听听
Managing听deer听browsing required creative solutions. Where traditional deer fencing听wasn鈥檛听practical due to the terrain, individual听tree shelters听protect saplings while allowing wildlife to continue using the wider site, while some smaller shelters in fenced areas protect saplings from rabbits. This听approach听maintains听the site鈥檚 value for existing populations rather than excluding them from the restored areas.
Young trees planted in rows that are protected by individual tree guards, with a deer fence in the background. Copyright: Robinson Forestry Ltd
Fast tracking听funding applications听
To support the听project,听funding听was secured through EWCO. EWCO听covers capital costs for听establishing听a woodland.听Jonathan鈥檚 project qualified for听additional听funding by delivery听of听multiple benefits including improved water quality, reduced flood risk, contributed to听nature recovery,听and听provision of听access听for听the local community.听听听
Working听with听an听agent, Jonathan navigated the application to EWCO through the Woodland Creation Fast Track. The land was听classified听as low sensitivity, which meant Jonathan鈥檚 application could be reviewed and approved within 12 weeks.听For this project, the entire process took just 11 weeks from start to finish, allowing planting to happen in the same year as application听鈥� avoiding a season gap.听听
The agent felt the听fast听track process听to be a significant听benefit, helping to听maintain听momentum.听They are听now producing a woodland management plan to听ensure the听woodland鈥檚听long-term health听and听resilience.听
Simon Smith, Forestry Agent, Robinson Forestry Ltd, said:
The听fast track听process was听very positive. From听initial听interest right through to planting, everything progressed on a听manageable听timeframe, which is really important.听听
The Woodland Officer turned things around quickly and worked hard to keep to the timeline. It felt like a genuine priority and meant we could plan and plant without missing a season.
Unlocking the听benefits听
Creating听the听woodland听will bring听a variety of significant benefits听to Racecourse Farm.听In addition听to carbon听sequestration, wildlife听corridors听are appearing,听which will听increase听biodiversity and allow a wider range of species to thrive.
Early signs are promising, with听Kestrels听and Buzzards听hunting听on听the site since planting. The longer grass has developed a vole population, and they听seem to be听relishing this new habitat and food source.听The alder planted is thriving and alder beetle are听evident, which听in turn has become a food source for听birds.听听
The听woodlands听will听also help听to听prevent soil erosion and mitigate flooding by stabilising the land and regulating water flow. By providing natural screening,听the woodlands听will听help to听improve air quality from emissions, as well as听reducing听the impact听of听anti-social听behaviour from听the nearby听motorway听services听鈥撎齱hich will benefit听the local community.听听
Newly planted woodland around the watercourse on the farm, with rows of young trees visible inside tree guards. Copyright: Robinson Forestry Ltd
Beyond the woodlands听themselves,听Jonathan听has a听larger environmental plan,听having also听introduced听leaky dams,听pond restoration听and 1500 metres of new hedgerows听to the farm.听The听woodlands are a vital piece of the larger ecological puzzle, contributing to a healthier, more resilient landscape.听
Jonathan Capener, landowner, said:
Re-establishing woodland on the lower quality areas of land allows me to focus on improving the remaining pasture while creating a network of wildlife corridors that link hedgerows and woodland blocks, all as part of a masterplan to enhance biodiversity across the farm.
Tips for landowners听
- take your time to carefully plan and consider the financial aspects
- remember it is a听15-year听plan,听so include the details听upfront听to ensure long-term success
- use the听free听resources available听from the听Forestry Commission and Forest Research, whether听that鈥檚听to understand听what type of soil you听have听or which species would be best suited to your land
Further information
For guidance on woodland creation and information on grants and available support, visit听Tree planting and woodland creation: overview.
To find out how other farmers and landowners are benefitting from woodland creation, visit听Tree planting and woodland creation case studies.