Historic Northamptonshire estate wins King’s Award
Courteenhall Estate wins King's Award for sustainable farming practices
A family-owned rural estate in Northamptonshire has been awarded one of the UK’s most prestigious business honours for its approach to sustainable land management.
Courteenhall Estate has received the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development, an accolade granted by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister to organisations demonstrating exceptional environmental leadership alongside commercial success.
The award recognises the estate’s long-term commitment to regenerative farming and biodiversity.
The Wake family has managed the land at Courteenhall, near Northampton, for more than 350 years. Dr Johnny Wake, managing partner of the estate, said the honour carried “huge credibility and exclusivity”.
“We are only custodians of this land,” he said. “Our job is to leave it in a better place for the next generations.”
The estate currently manages around 2,000 acres of arable farmland and livestock, certified under the Pasture for Life scheme. Regenerative farming practices are used across the business, including reduced tillage to protect soil structure, diverse crop rotations to restore nutrients naturally, and cover crops that help prevent soil erosion and improve fertility.
Courteenhall has set a target to become net zero by 2030. This is being supported by detailed carbon modelling, renewable energy projects and a long-term programme of woodland planting, hedgerow restoration and the creation of species-rich grasslands to capture and store carbon.
Alongside its environmental work, the estate has reported consistent financial growth over the past three years, something it says demonstrates that sustainability and economic resilience can go hand in hand.
Dr Wake said the award reflected the collective effort of the estate’s team. “It’s recognition of what our team has done in setting the vision and then all working our socks off to travel there,” he said.
The estate’s sustainability work also extends beyond farming. Courteenhall supports New Leaf Learning, a charity based on the estate that provides nature-based programmes for primary school children who are struggling to engage with education. The charity also works with teachers and parents, and reports positive outcomes for participating pupils.
Dr Wake said the award would help the estate build trust as it develops future projects. “We are not remotely the finished article,” he said. “But this helps demonstrate that we are credible and serious about combining farming, community and financial resilience in a sustainable way.”