Conservation

We farm on Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA), one of the largest areas of chalk grassland in Europe. Almost 20,000 hectares is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is home to an incredibly diverse range of flora and fauna which are interdependent on grazing animals.

Our farm covers a few hundred hectares of that area and we are proud to keep our slice of SSSI in good condition. The remainder of the farm is a mix of “improved” grassland and arable.

Nature-Friendly Farming

DEFRA funding and other external support enables us to farm in a nature-friendly fashion. In practice this means we have low stocking density, graze in a way that promotes biodiversity, include pollinator / wildlife friendly areas in our arable rotation, gently manage hedgerows, and protect archaeological features from damage by invasive plants. As we’re in a Nitrogen Vulnerable Zone (NVZ), we also take care to avoid nutrient runoff.

Capturing Carbon

We’re very excited about the potential role of extensive grazing systems in carbon sequestration. You might have heard planting trees is the answer — but that’s just one part of a very complex picture. And with no trees in our tenancy, we’re looking at how we can come at the problem from a soil health and grazing management perspective. If any researchers out there are reading this, we’d love to talk.

Collaboration

As well as activities on our own land, we also collaborate with our neighbours to learn more about how we can work together to support nature.