ConservationandProgressEnv2

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 we 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.
• Limit pesticide use - we are due to start organic conversion in 2009.
• 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 set 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.

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 1ha of wild bird cover containing kale, sunflower, millet, etc
• 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:

• Crop 10ha of spring barley which is then left as stubble over winter.
• Leave bare skylark plots in the spring barley for nesting.
• Restore 50m of dry stone wall.
• Cut the hay late when flowers and grasses have set seed.

• Leave blocks of set-aside, grass and some margins untouched over winter for the birds and insects.