We have a special passion for conservation and we are keen to restore old habitats and to maximise biodiversity wherever possible. We have been lucky to receive considerable help from DEFRA (Rural England) towards these aims, and have undertaken a never-ending list of projects. A number of these projects are already showing fabulous results.
For example, we have planted 10 miles of new hedges along old field boundaries; we have reverted 175 acres of arable land back to chalk downland; and we have established large areas of wild bird seed mix and nectar and pollen mix. Thousands of trees have been planted and all our fields have a 6m margin of tussocky grasses and wildflowers. We have worked on our woods to restore indigenous, deciduous trees and improved the habitat of the brook to encourage wild trout.
In 5 years we are excited by the improvement in wildlife numbers, whether it be the numbers and variety of butterflies, the increase in barn owls (from 1 to 4 pairs), the nesting peregrine falcons, the flock of a hundred golden plover, the large numbers of hares and most recently a pair of otters.
We are part of The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s large project comparing biodiversity between organic and conventional farms.