Environmental preservation and enhancement is a priority within the business and is being achieved through a number of methods. In 2006 we entered a 5 year program at Hyde Farm and Temple Farm under the Entry Level Scheme (ELS) administered by the England Rural Development Program (ERDP) - a subsidiary arm of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

 

The ELS incentivises the adoption of various environmental measures so we have implemented a broad range of options which will compliment the farm's natural features and increase the biodiversity. These include the following:

  • Enhanced hedge management
  • Creation of protected habitats under trees within arable fields
  • Creation of buffer strips alongside water courses
  • Introduction of uncropped naturally regenerating areas
  • Introduction of small plots of rare grassland species
  • Rotational provision of Skylark plots in cereal fields
  • Management plans enhancing best practice in term of soil and crop protection issues
  • Creation of areas sown with specific grass and wild flower mixes to provide high levels of pollen and nectar for insects

 

Elsewhere on the farms we have repaired and strengthened hedgerows and recently invested time assessing the scope for improvements on our stretch of Bisham Brook which is a small stream eminating from the River Thames between Hurley and Temple, and rejoining the main river near Quarry Wood where the flow heads on towards Bourne End. After lengthy discussions and subsequent site surveys, it was discovered that the stream banks support a population of water voles. This means activity on the banks has to be minimised to safeguard their habitat.

Allowing more water into the brook via the sluice on the Thames has increased water flow slightly and we appear to have more fish life present than in the past. The regular swans, geese and ducks are now complemented by heron and regular sightings of kingfishers.

 

Bird surveys are recently undertaken on our land which provide regular updates on local populations with pleasing results in terms of numbers and diversity.

We have recently begun discussions with Natural England about entering the HLS (Higher Level Environmental Scheme) and hope to submit an application in 2010 which will build on the ELS benefits already achieved.