The Duchy of Cornwall

The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate which funds the public, charitable and private activities of The Prince of Wales and his family. The Duchy consists of around 53,154 hectares of land in 24 counties, mostly in the South West of England. The Isles of Scilly have been part of the Duchy of Cornwall since its foundation in the 14th Century. The Duke of Cornwall has shown a strong personal interest in environmental issues for decades. The long history of the Duchy and the Duke’s own commitment to pass the estate down to his successors in a better and stronger condition requires a long-term stewardship approach.

With this in mind, His Royal Highness ensures that sustainable development, environmental and agricultural best practice, and working in partnership with tenants and communities, are at the heart of the Duchy’s management approach. The Duchy also works in partnership with a number of environmental organisations such as the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Forum for the Future, the Soil Association and Natural England. The Duchy actively encourages its tenants to practice conservation alongside commercial farming. It does this by spreading information on best practice and responsibilities under environmental legislation, encouraging high levels of biodiversity, and raising awareness of the principles of organic farming, and the potential of other agri-environment schemes. Good land management is encouraged, and the Duchy supports the reduction and recycling of waste.