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Heberdens Farm is a 500 acre farm set in the rolling hills of the South Downs National Park. Our business ethos is to protect and enhance the environment as much as we can. We encourage the habitats of mammals, birds and insects, we prevent leaching of nutrients into the wider environment and water courses, we use organic manures before using artificial fertilisers for crop nutrition and we only use pesticides when absolutely necessary.
There are 22acres of woodland on the farm. These are managed to provide habitats for mammals and birds. We have a mixture of types and ages of woodland, ranging from 100 year old oak and ash, to 20 year old beech and cedar. Due to a disease called ash die back, we are having to fell all the ash trees on the farm and we will then start work on planting new trees to replenish the woodland areas.
There are 3.4 miles of hedgerows on the farm. These are the motorways of small mammals and insects and provide a fundamental network for life. We do not cut the hedges every year, as this encourages hedge growth which helps nesting birds. This year we are going to plant another 500m of hedge and we hope to do the same again next year.
On average only half the farm is planted in the autumn with crops we sell. Rather than leave the ground bare all winter, which can cause soil erosion and nutrients to leach through into the water courses, which causes eutrophication. We plant what are known as cover crops, these quite literally cover the ground. This prevents soil erosion and the plants take up the nutrients in the ground preventing them leaching into water courses. In the spring prior to us drilling our spring crops, the cover crops are chopped up and incorporated back into the soil. This increases the organic matter in the soil, organic matter is over 50% carbon, therefore we are taking carbon from the atmosphere and making it a part of our soil, helping to offset our carbon emissions.
We plant 20 acres every May with a mixture of plants which provide a range of feed stuffs throughout the winter months and also provide protection from winter weather for birds. By consistently doing this we have attracted many birds to the farm and have helped their breeding.
In addition to the winter bird food areas, to ensure there is enough food for all the birds throughout the winter we carry out what is called supplementary feeding. This is where we spread grain next to areas where birds are likely to nest, so they have access to food in more areas across the farm.
We have planted 2 acres with a mixture of plants that are for pollinators and insects. With a balance of different flowers and grasses, we encourage the likes of bees and butterflies. One of these areas is around St Huberts church, which as well as being environmentally beneficial offers a beautiful backdrop for some great photos.
Chalk grassland is one of the richest habitats of Western Europe and we have 22 acres on the farm. This part of our farm is an open access area which means everyone can explore the whole area. We rotationally cut back the scrub, this allows multiple levels in the flora which then can benefit all sizes of animal and bird species.
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