We’re proud of the rich, diverse environment around us.
The farm is a mosaic of different habitats that support wildlife and biodiversity:
Hares are quite different from rabbits in both appearance and behaviour. We have numerous hares on the farm — look carefully as you drive down and you may well see one!
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In 2016 we installed two barn owl boxes on the farm. Every year (apart from one) the boxes have been successful — one year a family of sparrowhawks took over and raised their young!
We receive an annual visit from the Shropshire Barn Owl Group, who weigh and ring the owlets to check their health.
To help provide food for growing owlets, we manage a close field to maintain a tussocky sward — avoiding damage to the thick understory that provides ideal cover for mice and voles.
We have over 1.5 miles of hedgerows and more than a mile of tree-lined boundaries. These natural features are important for wildlife and the wider environment:
We use a mix of management techniques to increase habitat diversity:
Keeps the hedge a uniform size and encourages it to thicken (“fill out”), improving stock-proofing (we usually fence both sides as well).
An excellent way to restore tall, thin hedges. After cleaning out dead wood and any fencing, suitable stems are pleached (part-cut) and laid over. Hazel binders are woven between stakes to hold the stems in place, filling the base of the hedge — the gold standard for rejuvenation.
Coppicing cuts selected stems near ground level (e.g., hazel), promoting vigorous regrowth and a diverse age structure.
