The Estate

The beautiful Mansfield Estates stretch from fertile arable land by the banks of the River Tay at Scone, famed for its salmon fishing, to the grouse moor of North Logiealmond. The grounds of Scone Palace are the best-known breeding locality in Scotland for Hawfinch. There are fine woodlands on the grounds and policies of Scone Palace, some of the fir trees being at least 250 years old. A number of peacocks roam the grounds, including several white males.

Forestry

Scone Palace has 1900 hectares of woodlands, comprising 75% conifers and 25% broadleaves. The woodlands have a long history of commercial management dating back over 400 years. A previous Head Forester, Frank Scott, was one of the founding fathers of the Forestry Commission in 1919. Prior to this, Scone had been one of the great Forestry Training Estates, where young foresters learned the craft and often went on to become Head Foresters on other estates later in life. Scone had an early pioneering involvement with conifers dating back to the first half of the 19th century, even before the Pinetum was established. This started in 1826 when David Douglas, the renowned botanist and explorer, sent back seeds of the fir tree that bears his name. The Pinetum originated with the planting of certain exotic coniferous trees in 1848, with some older trees and others added over the years.

Agriculture

The gently rolling landscape around Scone Palace provides fertile grounds for the growing of arable crops, including soft fruit, cereals, such as barley, oats, wheat and root crops, such as potatoes and turnips. Oil seed rape is also grown. Further West, these grounds give way to more hilly and marginal terrain, providing an ideal environment for the rearing of livestock, producing excellent quality local produce.