Elmore Court is rewilding a quarter of its grounds and building six new treehouses

Elmore Court has revealed it will be returning a quarter of its estate to nature, rewilding approximately 250 acres of former farmland – with exciting plans to build treehouses and a floating sauna, too.

By Annabel Lammas | Published Wednesday 24 February 2021

Committed to environmental sustainability, Elmore Court owner Anselm Guise pledges to rewild almost a quarter of the estate, which has been in his family since the 13th century. Rob Tarren — Committed to environmental sustainability, Elmore Court owner Anselm Guise pledges to rewild almost a quarter of the estate, which has been in his family since the 13th century. © Rob Tarren

Elmore Court is rediscovering Gloucestershire’s wild side, with plans to let nature take over approximately 250 acres of former farmland on its historic estate, near Quedgeley.

Owner, Anselm Guise, has revealed his plans to take a step back and return the land to the wild, allowing nature to recolonise a portion of the grounds without human interference – a process that will ensure Elmore has a positive effect on the environment for generations to come.

Currently, all agricultural activity has stopped on Elmore Farm and will be ceased on Weir Farm in September 2021. As the farmland becomes wildland, nature will begin to flourish, improving soil quality and increasing biodiversity, as flora and fauna of all kinds make Elmore home.

The estate already uses timber from its own woodland to heat its facilities, with its electricity supply coming from renewable sources and its kitchens stocked with home-grown ingredients. Even its auxiliary venue, The Gillyflower, was built using rammed earth and materials from Elmore’s own land.

But the rewilding plans mark a new phase in its 750-year history, as it shows how a hereditary estate can truly give back to the environment – as an eco-conscious hotel and wedding venue with uncultivated grounds, occupied by native species such as English longhorn cattle, Roe deer and Exmoor ponies.

What’s more, Elmore Court has revealed plans to build six treehouses, available for wedding guests and other stays, overlooking the rewilded land.

According to plans outlined by architects Miller + Howard, there will be a variety of accommodation to suit all manner of budgets, including a number of larger and relatively self-contained cabins, perfect for family staycations, too.

There’s even the possibility of adding a floating sauna to the Groundless Pool – a lake and popular wild swimming spot in the northeast of Elmore, which falls within the remit of the estate. Floating over the water, guests would be able to gaze out across the rewilded area as they relax and unwind.