Around 40% of our thousand-acre estate is set aside for arable farming. We grow wheat, barley, oats, oilseed rape, and maize in rotation blocks, to encourage healthy soils, ecological diversity, and, ultimately, yields.
Stepping back from the operational day-to-day activity has allowed us to think more strategically about the wider environmental issues around farming, and we’ve been actively engaged in the Country Stewardship Schemes ever since. This has resulted in planting up hedgerows, leaving margins for birdlife, and reviewing our application of fertilisers and sprays.
This journey is ongoing, but we’re excited about engaging in several new Government initiatives. As more details of the Environmental Land Management schemes are announced, we’re confident that there will be many projects that fulfil our strategic objectives in the years ahead.