Restoring lost habitat
The vision
Our whole family feels deeply connected to the farm. It has been in Rupert's mother's family for generations and we want to manage it with a long term mindset. Prompted by a desire to take the farming practices in a new direction and changes in government farming support policy, in 2022 we decided to review what we wanted for the farm, the family and the community. Our decision led to a radical change in direction for High Braythorne Farm.
Being a relatively small farm with no modern buildings, we couldn't see a future in commodity production. Instead, our position in the landscape and the character of our land gave us an opportunity to let ecosystems be our guide.
The image above is a vision for the farm once the work in our habitat management plan has matured.
First steps
The first step into our transition was to join Defra's Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot. Where we had "improved grassland" adjacent to hedgerows, we left 4m margins to allow grass to grow long. This provides better conditions for small mammals (e.g. voles) and invertebrates.
We have learned many lessons from the pilot. Meeting other farmers with the same aspirations and challenges has been a great education.
The pilot ends in 2023 so we needed to look to the future.
Creating a habitat bank
In 2023 a new opportunity came up to be more radical. We agreed terms with Environment Bank to increase biodiversity by restoring and enhancing habitat across the eastern section of the farm.
The plan includes conversion of monoculture ryegrass swards to more diverse grassland, including some species-rich meadows.
Hedges that have been removed over previous generations are being replanted.
Areas with low productivity adjacent to the woodland and beck will be planted with a mixture of trees and scrub.
Several ponds will be created to expand habitat for invertebrates and hold water that drains off higher ground to the north and slow the flow down the catchment
Our Partners
