Our Plans and Sustainability Goals

We love the countryside, and we realise how very lucky we are to be in stewardship of a parcel of the wonderful Worcestershire countryside.

In the short period we have been at the site, we have had it surveyed by an accredited Ecology Organisation throughout the year.

This has revealed a number of things:

1. It has been used as pasture for several years.

2. Diversity around and within the boundary is fairly unremarkable and is typical of a monoculture (grazing) agricultural site.

3. There is plenty that can be done, subtly, to increase the diversity of the plants, trees, wild insects and animals that are found on the site.

4. This increase in diversity can be done in ways that doesn’t alter the appearance of the site and will compliment using the location for small agricultural farming purposes.

5. This can be achieved by adding plants, grass and trees that are more beneficial to the wider ecosystem rather than grazing alone.

Maintenance

We have already invested quite a lot of maintenance in the last 12 months.

Gates and boundaries

Replacing the original entrance gate, the gate posts for which had rotted and broken off at ground level.

The new gate has been located more inwardly of the old gate, to allow visiting vehicles to stop clear of the road and not create an obstruction.

Gravel has been placed around this gateway to ensure that access to the site at wetter times of year is maintained for those who may have accessibility challenges and reduces mud from the field being tracked out onto the road.

A garden area (for small crop cultivation) (A) was created in 2021 with post and rail fencing, this partitions off the area and protects the crops from any grazing animals in the main field.

A second fenced off area (B) was also added in 2021, this was set aside (from the usual mowing and baling of hay) in 2021, to allow for the insects and insect larvae over wintering at ground level to re-emerge in the spring 2022.

New finger posts were installed for our public footpaths and we are awaiting delivery of a new “swing gate” and signs to assist our walkers in accessing and travelling across the site.

The brook

It was identified that the lower section of the field was draining poorly. There are several land drains and the properties whose septic tanks overflow downhill into the field area. The brook that is on the south boundary (C) of the field had not received any maintenance for longer than anyone consulted could recall. The shallowness of the brook at the upstream end was exacerbating the poor drainage of the soil. After consulting the various government agencies involved in waterway management, in Autumn 2021, the south boundary fence was removed and the upstream portion of the brook was dredged.

Several of the softwood boards in the weir that had become rotten, were replaced with hardwood items, supplied locally.

The soil removed from the stream was temporally placed in a pile, as the weather had become very wet during the work and the area became quite boggy.

The contactor carrying out the maintenance on the brook, also consulted the owner of the adjacent land, as there were a number of tree limbs that had grown across the brook from the other side that required removal as they were contributing to the blockages and added more debris to the brook each year. This maintenance of this tree line will allow also more sunlight to the area and help keep the lower section of the field drier.

2022

Winter

We are off to a flying start for 2022, with over 200 trees and shrubs planted already. Many of these along boundaries. We have also planted 40 kilo’s of daffodil bulbs along boundaries and hedgerows. Three trees that were blown down within the western boundary (D) during the February storms have been removed and processed into firewood. The brash from these were added back to the boundary to allow new growth.

Spring

Through the Spring, we plan to have the fence along the brook reinstated, the removed limbs from the tree line processed and removed for firewood. The soil that was dredged from the stream will also be removed once the ground is stable enough.

We have wild meadow flower and sunflower seeds to plant along the boundary of the brook as well as several fruit trees, all of which should benefit insects, animals and walkers.

Animals/Livestock

2021 saw two 100 meter square poultry enclosures added to site. This has allowed us to raise numerous chickens, ducks and produce eggs. These have been offered as items for exchange or sale on the gate. Bird flu has meant that we could not let the birds out to graze in the latter part of 2021, but we are hoping that these restrictions will pass in early 2022.

March 2022 should see the arrival of 2 pigs. These will enjoy routing around in the set aside area (B), from spring onwards. They will contribute to the soil heath, by turning the soil over and fertilising the area as they go. This will allow us to introduce further wildflower meadow plants and crops.

We are expecting the arrival of some spring lambs around the same time, just a small flock for 2022.

Soil health

The health of the soil is not ideal, but as well as can be expected for a site that has only been set to grass for hay and then subsequently only grazed by sheep. Whilst the sheep do return some nutrients back to the earth, more has been taken away each year than returned to the soil. We are looking at ways, that complement the nature of the site, to improve the soil health over the coming years. This has started with us allowing the main section of the field to rest over winter.

Water management

Growing vegetables can be quite water intensive over the summer months. Our drive to follow sustainable farming practices means that we are loath to apply water that has been purified for human consumption, to our crops. Our primary source of water is rainfall. A number of 1000 litre IBC’s have been strategically placed around the site in order to capture and retain up to 5000 litres of rain water for our crops and animals. In the summer months this natural water supply can be supplemented by drawing water, with our solar powered pump, from the stream. The environment agency does allow the extraction of up 10,000 litres a day. This is far more than we would need to get us through the driest months.

Produce

Our aim is to produce on a small scale and through sustainable methods eggs, fruits and vegetables of high quality, whilst improving the biodiversity and ecological health of the land. In order to increase our yield and extend the growing season, we have placed a planning application for the addition of a polytunnel. This will allow us to grow produce year round with protection from the elements. We have interest from local shops that have agreed to take our locally grown produce, once we can supply items with regularity.

Credits

We are very grateful for the assistance, advice and excellent workmanship that has been afforded us by the local trades people, whilst making the improvements to date.

Also much appreciation to our family members and friends who have pitched in and given support.