Our Conservation Work
Insect heaven!
Pyramidal orchid
So far we have:
- Reverted 50ha of arable land to species rich meadow and pasture using native seed
- Left 2km of grassy field margins around arable fields
- Established 7ha of wild bird cover containing fodder radish, triticale, quinoa, mustard, kale and millet
- Planted over 1000 native trees and shrubs (although these areas are kept discreet to maintain the open "wold" character of the farm)
Every year we:
- Grow 4ha of legume nectar mix to help feed the bees and wild bird chicks
- Create 4ha of fallow for ground nesting birds such as lapwing and skylark
- Restore 25m of dry stone wall
- Cut the hay late when the wild flowers and grasses have set seed
- Leave blocks of grass and field margins untouched over winter for wildlife
We also:
- Keep livestock numbers low to avoid over grazing and soil damage
- Restrict avermectin (wormer) use so as to benefit dung and insect numbers
- Leave dead wood in situ wherever possible
- Leave hedges uncut for 3 years plus and cut only after winter leaving the berries for birds
- Erect barn owl boxes and boxes for tree sparrows etc
- Do not use artificial fertiliser on the species rich meadows and pastures
- Manage the farm organically
- Limit supplementary feeding of stock aiming for a natural grass based diet
With natural resources in mind we:
- Do not work or travel on soil when wet so as to avoid compaction
- Recycle all farm plastics, glass and scrap metal
- Are reducing our energy usage and have switched to green tariffs
- Monitor and reduce our carbon (CO2) footprint with the aim of being carbon neutral
- Are researching ways to become more self sufficient in energy
- Limit water use and collect rainwater
- Compost as much as we can
