The Dunster Estate was acquired by The Crown Estate in the 1950s and extends to approximately 3897 hectares (9630 acres) including 1415 hectares (3496 acres) of woodland.
This includes 17 farms and a further 69 directly let residential properties. The castle, though at one time was also included in The Crown Estate’s ownership when it was first acquired, was given to the National Trust in 1975.
The Dunster Estate’s farms are engaged in a wide variety of traditional activities, including dairy, crops, beef and chickens. The farms and other businesses on the estate also represent are also increasingly diversified so that they can move with the ever changing economy. You can read more about the estate businesses here.
Farm size ranges from 6ha (17 acres) at Higher Rodhuish Farm to 185ha (458 acres) at Withycombe Farm. The average holding size is 132ha (327 acres).
The woodland portion of the estate is primarily comprised of conifer forest planted in the 1950s and 60s, though there are significant blocks of Ancient Semi Natural oak woodland, such as Withycombe Scruffets (40ha), and other semi natural woodland blocks spread across the estate.
The forest land has traditionally been managed for high quality timber production, though now The Crown Estate are actively encouraging recreational and educational use of the forest by the public, and where appropriate carrying out conservation projects to improve the quality of woodland and heathland habitats.