Historic Rye area estate wins two national awards

On Thursday 15th October, the estate collected a prestigious national forestry award, taking Gold in the Royal Forestry Society's Small and Farm Woodland of the Year Awards 2026 for its specialist cricket bat willow plantations.

On the same day, Hole Park's Christmas trees were recognised by the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) in their annual Christmas tree 'Oscars', taking a runner-up spot with their Norway Spruce.

The RFS award, sponsored by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), recognises the estate's 20 hectares of agroforestry plantations which produce high-quality cricket bat willow in the Weald of Kent. Judges praised owner Edward Barham's long-standing commitment to the crop, noting that he had been "ahead of the curve" in developing plantations capable of meeting the exacting specifications required by buyers.

The two wins mark renewed national recognition for the estate's tree cultivation.

Last year Edward Barham collected a special BCTGA award for his longstanding contribution to high-quality Christmas tree production - something that has been a core part of the estate for more than 60 years. Hole Park Christmas trees regularly find homes as far away was the West Country and the Midlands and as the central feature of many stately home displays. The Royal Forestry Society's Small and Farm Woodland of the Year Award recognises excellence in the management of smaller woodlands and demonstrates how innovative forestry practices can deliver both environmental and economic benefits. Hole Park secured the same award in 2019 when the willow plantations were still in their early stages of development. Seven years later, the trees have reached maturity and this year’s harvesting began this month.

Cricket bat willow is one of the most specialised timber crops grown in Britain. Trees must achieve a minimum girth of 60 inches at chest height and require years of meticulous management to produce the straight, knot-free timber demanded by bat manufacturers. Judges highlighted the intensive programme of pruning, bud rubbing and regular monitoring that has delivered exceptional growth rates in the plantations.

Hole Park Estate owner Edward Barham said: "I am delighted to have won these two awards - for our agroforestry cricket bat willow plantations for the second time in succession, and for our high-quality Christmas trees.

"When we won the RFS award in 2019, these plantations were still in their infancy. It is particularly satisfying to receive recognition again now that the trees have matured and we have begun harvesting.

"I am proud to be able to show how the barrier between forestry and farming can be adapted to the mutual benefit of both sectors, producing fine forestry plantations while allowing farming to continue underneath. The two sectors have traditionally seen a hard divide between them, but with climate change now upon us, I am sure there will be more examples of this sort of diversification."

The two awards highlight the broad range of rural enterprises undertaken at Hole Park. Alongside forestry operations, that also include oak production and wood fuel, the estate includes the renowned eponymous Hole Park Gardens which will celebrate 100 years of opening to the public in 2027.