We are proud of the rich and diverse environment around us.
The farm has a rich mosaic of different landscapes including
Open grass pasture, wildflower meadows, wetland, woodlands,streams, ponds, areas of scrub, coppiced woodland, ancient oak trees and hay fields. All of these different landscapes provide different habitats for the wildlife and bio-diversity on the farm.
Hares are quite different from rabbits from how they look as well as their behaviour. We have numerous hares on the farm so look carefully as you drive down to the farm as you may well see one!
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In 2016 we installed a 2 barn owl box on the farm.
Every year apart from one year the box has been a success. one year a family of Sparrowhawks muscled in and raised their young.
We also receive an annual visit from Shropshire Barn Owl Group who weigh and tag the young owlets to check their health.
To help to provide food for the young owlets we manage the grass land in one close field to try and maintain a tussocky sward. Ideally the grass is maintained and to avoid damaging the thick understory of the grass which provides a suitable home for mice and voles.
We have over 1.5 miles of hedgerows and over a mile of tree lined boundaries.
These natural boundaries are important for a variety of reasons for the wildlife as well as the environments.
- These hedges provide a network of of wildlife corridors which help protect the smaller animals for moving safely around the farm
- Shelter, roosting and for nesting.
- The different hedgerow plants provide a variety of fruits and flowers.
We maintain the hedgerows by cutting them mechanically, hedgelaying as well as coppicing. These management techniques help provide further diversity of habitats.
Mechanical trimming - This helps to keep the hedge a uniform size and encourages the hedge to 'fill out'. This provides potentially a good stock barrier albeit we usually have fencing on either side of a hedge.
Hedgelaying - This is an excellent way of restoring a tall hedge with relatively thin shrubs. Before laying the hedge is cleaned and any fencing and dead wood is removed. The next stage is to look closer at suitable stems to lay. These stems are pleached (almost cut through) and then bent at an angle downwards. The stems are then held in place by weaving some flexible hazel between small stakes that are placed in the hedgeline. This technique then fills the base of the hedge and is the ultimate way of restoring a hedge.
Coppicing - This technique involves cutting suitable stems of the hedge near to the ground level. hazel
