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March 11, 2022 by

HAINEY FARM

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Hainey Farm

In 1952, Guy Shropshire started farming at Hainey Farm in the lsle of Ely in Cambridgeshire. In the early 1960’s Marks and Spencer became the first supermarket customer he supplied. 

Hainey Farm is now part of Cambs Farms Growers Ltd, who became founder members of G’s Growers. G’s is one of the UK’s largest salad growing businesses with farms across East Anglia, West Midlands and West Sussex. 

Today at Hainey Farm (494ha) they grow Iceberg, Little Gem and Romaine lettuce, celery, onions, beetroot and winter wheat amongst other crops, some grown conventionally as well as organically.  

Guy Shropshire’s grandson, Charles Shropshire is now the Director of Cambs Farms Growers Ltd and, although the business is his main challenge, he is fully aware of the balance required to maintain a healthy farm business working alongside the environment. “Here at Cambs Farms Growers Ltd, we are passionate and committed to enhancing the environment”, says Charles Shropshire. “The Fenlands are essential to our farming business, and we believe in working with nature to provide the perfect ecosystems for wildlife to flourish and our crops to grow.” With this in mind, the farm set 10% of its land aside for wildlife. Working with the farm’s Conservation Manager, Stewart McIntyre, and the RSPB’s Conservation Advisor, Andrew Holland, they entered the Countryside Stewardship higher-tier scheme and became certified members of Fair to Nature, which they see as the gold standard for environmental and wildlife enhancement. 

“The Fenlands are essential to our farming business, and we believe in working with nature to provide the perfect ecosystems for wildlife to flourish and our crops to grow.”

Charles Shropshire, G’s Growers

A wide range of Countryside Stewardship options and Fair to Nature habitats have been applied to enhance all flora and fauna. Nearly 12ha of bird seed mix has been sown specifically to provide food during the winter, for farmland birds such as the Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Tree Sparrow, with supplementary feeding as an added addition. Over 20ha of flowers have been sown across the farmed landscape, including ox-eye daisy, bird’s foot-trefoil, red clover and musk mallow. These will provide butterflies, hoverflies, moths and bees with a much needed nectar and pollen resource throughout the year. The abundance of invertebrates found in these mixes, provides an important food source for adult birds and their chicks, which is crucial to their survival. 

Tussock grass margins and grassland fields extend over 28ha of the farm. Margins are placed strategically alongside watercourses and hedgerows to protect existing habitats. The increasing Water Vole population and the damselflies that dance over the ditches clearly show the water is clean. Whilst Tree Sparrows are nesting successfully in the hedgerows. 

The many different habitats across the farm cover far more than the minimum required for the Fair to Nature certification. Wet grassland has been improved, by creating foot drains and scrapes for breeding Lapwing and Snipe. Reedbed has been created to attract breeding Bittern and Warblers. Woodlands are being managed sensitively to encourage breeding birds, with glades created for butterflies. Stewart McIntyre says, “The strategy we have implemented is already showing benefits, which is very rewarding.” 

Charles is keen to promote how nature can be incorporated alongside a commercial farm business. For the last six years, the farm has opened its gates to the public on Open Farm Sunday. Everyone is invited to join the farming team to view equipment and packing facilities used to make this farm what it is today. Wildlife walks and trailer rides show off various bird seed and flower mixes around the farm. With over 6000 attending the event, what better way to show how wildlife and farming can work hand in hand! 

“With Stewart’s tireless energy, a vast range of Countryside Stewardship options have been implemented and existing habitat is being managed more sensitively. Already, bird numbers are increasing, with Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer numbers rising dramatically and a population of Tree Sparrows, not only feeding, but breeding on the farm has now been recorded, which is fantastic,” says Andrew Holland. 

The farm entered into the evidence-based Fair to Nature scheme in 2017 because the proscriptive suite of habitats required have been proven to increase farmland wildlife. The Fair to Nature Standard is based on research that showed a 13-fold increase in bumblebees, an eight-fold increase in butterflies, 42% increase in bird life, and a significant increase in plant life, including some of the rarer annual species. More recent studies at the RSPB’s Fair to Nature accredited Hope Farm have shown a 201% rise in breeding farmland birds where targeted habitats, such as those required by the scheme, are in place.  

Managing the habitats to keep them in peak condition for the wildlife that use them can be costly, and this important work is partly funded by responsible companies, such as M&S, who use the products from these farms. 

Author: Andrew Holland (RSPB)

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March 4, 2022 by

THRIFT FARM

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Robert Law has been a member of Fair to Nature since it all started in 1985. Robert is a first-generation farmer, and his land lies along the chalk ridge of the Chiltern Hills. The soil is very light and free-draining, of low fertility and prone to drought, which is why Robert favours a mixed farming system. Although predominantly arable, he also has a large flock of breeding ewes and lambs, a small herd of cows and calves, and outdoor pigs.

Robert is committed to optimising the biodiversity on his land, including encouraging new or returning species of farmland birds and insects. Robert is a first-generation farmer and when he took over the farm a lot of the hedgerows had been removed over the years to make way for larger machinery and more food production areas. Gradually he has been putting those hedgerows back, and much more besides.

“You don’t have to do a lot to make a BIG difference. A little, done well, in the right places, makes such a difference!”

Robert Law, Farmer

While it took a few years for the habitats required by the Fair to Nature scheme to get established, these areas are easy to manage now. The habitats are all in the right locations, such as awkward, less productive areas of Robert’s land. Wildlife-rich woodland and wildflower corridors help to join up the habitats and allow wildlife to move around the farm. The light soil suits a lot of wildflower species. Pasque Flower is found in abundance on the neighbouring heathland, which Robert helps to manage.

Through his commitment to habitat creation and conservation, Robert has seen the return of Grey Partridge (a species on the Birds of Conservation Concern Red List) back to his farm. The wildflower margins and ponds that have been introduced have led to an increase in insect counts of all types across his land.

Robert believes that the benefits of being part of the Fair to Nature scheme are clearly demonstrated by the visible evidence of increased biodiversity. Fair to Nature also works well with the other contracts, schemes and payment systems that Robert has in place.

For other farmers considering joining Fair to Nature, Robert says, ‘Don’t get hung up on the specifics of devoting 10% of your famed land to nature. The most important thing is to believe in the wider benefits of taking part.’

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October 13, 2021 by

THRIFT FARM

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Nestled in the South Downs, Lordington Lavender was established in 2002 by Andrew and Rosie Elms. The wonderful lavender crop which goes into all Lordington Lavender products is grown with conservation and the environment very much in mind.

Lordington is a haven for wildlife, helping to support our precious farmland birds. Working with the RSPB, Andrew has conducted surveys on the farm and been delighted his land boasts purring Turtle Doves, as well as Yellowhammers, Linnets, and Skylark.

Butterflies and bumblebees also adorn the wildflower margins which grow alongside the insect-rich crop of lavender. An amazing lavender business supporting nature in a stunning way!

You can see the habitats in action during the annual Open Week in July.

Visit the Lordington Lavender online shop to see the range of wonderful products. 

“BUTTERFLIES AND BUMBLEBEES ADORN THE WILDFLOWER MARGINS WHICH GROW ALONGSIDE THE INSECT-RICH CROP OF LAVENDER”

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June 9, 2021 by

THRIFT FARM

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Stephen and Robert Honeywood run a mixed arable farm in mid Suffolk. Since joining the scheme, the farm has seen a massive increase in biodiversity as a result of changes in the management of habitats. These changes have taken place alongside growth in their business.

The Honeywood brothers use Fair to Nature oat straw as the main ingredient in their Honeychop range of horse feeds. The Honeychop brand is supplied to wholesalers and manufacturers throughout the UK.

The Honeychop range of high fibre chaffs are made with the finest quality ingredients providing all the fibre your horse or pony could need in a safe, palatable and natural way.

Honeychop are the only horse feed manufacturer to use just oat straw in their products. This is important as it is softer and tends to be more palatable than wheat or barley straw. They use their own home-grown and locally sourced Fair to Nature oat straw as standard. Having a lower lignin content also makes oat straw easier for horses to digest.

All of the Honeychop chaffs are short chops. The benefit of this is that it takes longer for a horse to eat 1kg of Honeychop than it does to eat 1kg of long chop such as hay. This keeps them occupied for longer especially when stabled for long periods of time.

You can find out where to purchase Honeychop horse feeds by using the stockist finder on the Honeychop website.

“The farm has seen a massive increase in biodiversity as a result of changes in the management of habitats”

Stephen Honeywood, farmer

TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE A BRIGHTER TOMORROW

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