CONSERVATION

We are passionate about being as sustainable as possible in everything that we do on the farm, from the logs that we supply to how we choose which crops to grow.

We are constantly thinking about what impact each action might make and how we can consistently improve the farm's biodiversity year on year.

Projects

Lowland heath restoration
Longhorn Cattle
Crops
Mangalitza Pigs
Parkland Restoration
Wildlife and biodiversity
Shetland Sheep

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Indivdual Flowers Rudge 50_edited_edited

LOWLAND HEATH RESTORATION

We first started to restore the heathland in 2016. Clearing 5 acres x of self seeded woodland. Stacking up some of the brash for the insects. It has been wonderful to see how quickly the heather has come back. The biodiversity has increased more than we could have imagined. We now have oil beetles and over 20 different types of bees. There is still more to be done however and we plan to increase the area by another 20 acres.

In 2020 we too delivery of 2 Longhorn heifers and a cow with a calf a foot. They are excellent browses so they will help keep the heath land clear of any saplings and brash.

We have been very lucky to have had some experts do some surveys on the heath and they have found an astounding array of insects and invertebrates, from the oil beetle to 32 different types of bee and wasp. Although not as impressive as larger animals they are an excellent marker of how healthy the heath is and how much biodiversity the area already created has added to the farm. The new areas of heath will be equally as successful and will play an very important roll with the local and national ecosystems.

LONGHORN CATTLE

We introduced the first two Longhorn heifers to the farm in 2020 as conservation grazers. Followed buy a cow and calf a foot. They have all done a really good job so far but they will have lots more work to do on the new area we about to fence. They graze or browse differently to the sheep and they won't have any detrimental effect on the heather. Their job will be to get rid of all the silver birch saplings to let the heather grow and spread through out the area.

With three steer calfs born earlier this year, another purpose of having the cattle is that we would like to be self sufficient. So we will fatten up one or two a year to be butchered and live off ourselves and also sell locally in our meat boxes.

Regenerative Farming

We grow a wide range of crops on the farm, from the traditional wheat and barley to asparagus and linseed. As part of our wide conservation projects we are going to be making some of the fields smaller. Re planting hedged where there used to be which will enable us to have a better wider rotation. With a bit more fencing, again through our stewardship scheme we would like to get some livestock on the fields to add natural fertilizer to the soil. Something we are really interested in nurturing.

MANGLITZA PIGS

In 2019 we took delivery of our first Mangalitza pigs. We instantly fell in love with their friendly nature and gorgeous curly coats. They are great for clearing the undergrowth in our woodland, especially the invasive willow herb. They play an important part of being self sufficient. Mangalitza pigs have the most amazing meat, slow grown until at least 16 months these rare breed pigs are the 'Wagyu' of the pork world.

We have made sausages, copper, prosciutto and many other cuts out of their meat.

We aim to breed these wonderful pigs in the future so we can continue to produce delicious pork while maintaining our woodland.

PARKLAND RESTORARION

We are really excited at the potential the parkland restoration will have on the farm. With a lot of tree planting to be done and some much needed wall mending along the front it's all very exciting.

WILDLIFE

From the humble oil beetle to the majestic otter we have seen a continous increase in biodiversity on the farm over the years. Since restoring the heath we have noticed many more birds singing in the trees and many more insects buzzing about. The imprints from the cow's hooves and their dung will create a more diverse habitat for different insects.

SHETLAND SHEEP

Our sheep like the cowes have an important conservation and self sufficiency roll on the farm. They originally were bought onto the heath but we soon found out that they like the young heather shoots just a little too much so we have moved them off the heath and on to a herbal lay which they love and are allowed to love as much as they want.