Download S Clarke Farms Ltd Conservation Plan

S Clarke (Farms) Ltd
Eco Centre Home Farm Screveton
Whole Farm Conservation Plan
Aim: To meet the ‘Wildlife and Landscape’ requirements of Section 6 of the
LEAF Marque standard 2008, by raising awareness of key wildlife habitats,
other environmental and archaeological features and best farming practice.
3 May 2017
Prepared by: Lesley Sharpe
Telephone: 07707 220121
E-Mail: [email protected]
Contents
1 Farm Details ......................................................................... 3
1.1 Landscape ...........................................................................3
1.2 Designations.........................................................................3
2
Objectives ............................................................................ 4
3
Action Plan ........................................................................... 5
4 Key Wildlife Habitats ........................................................... 6
4.1 Hedgerows ...........................................................................6
4.2 Ditches ..................................................................................7
4.3 Trees.......................................................................................7
4.4 Field Margins ........................................................................8
4.5 Conservation Headlands / Habitat Provision ................8
4.6 Arable / Uncropped Land ................................................9
4.7 Farm Roads / Tracks ...........................................................9
4.8 Grassland..............................................................................9
4.9 Ponds.................................................................................. 10
4.10 Woodland ......................................................................... 10
4.11 Orchards ............................................................................ 11
5 Key Species ....................................................................... 12
5.1 Key Species 1 .................................................................... 12
5.2 Key species 2 .................................................................... 13
5.3 Key species 3 .................................................................... 14
5.4 Key species 4 .................................................................... 14
6
Archaeological / Historic Features ................................... 15
7
Access ................................................................................ 16
8
Further Help ....................................................................... 16
Appendices ............................................................................... 16
1 Farm Details
Home Farm covers 274 ha with land in three nearby blocks at Car Colston,
Hawkesworth and Syerston in Nottinghamshire. Home Farm is a mainly
arable farm growing winter wheat and rape alongside a flock of sheep and
small herd of pigs. Additionally the farm hosts an Eco-centre with horticulture
and learning opportunities. The farm falls within the Trent catchment and is
in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone. The farm is in the Entry Level and Higher Level
Schemes.
1.1 Landscape
Home Farm is in the Trent and Belvoir Vale ‘Joint Character Area’ (JCA).
The farm has a rolling landform with clay loam soils. The farm is close to 3
villages and has public footpaths crossing and adjacent to it. It also lies
next to the A46.
There are a number of small areas of woodland in prominent positions
across the farm that adds landscape value being visible from the roads and
footpaths.
Small grass fields next to Screverton village and in particular a once
parkland field also increase the landscape value of the holding.
1.2 Designations
The farm contains one Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC)
and lies adjacent to one more.
The SINC site within the holding Stoneydale plantation is a mature
deciduous woodland forming a valuable wildlife habitat. SINC is a local
designation for sites of importance for wildlife.
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2 Objectives
The objective of this Whole Farm Conservation Plan is to clearly define the policy
and plan for the conservation and management of wildlife habitats and
biodiversity, and archaeological or historical sites, on Home farm. This includes
all the key environmental features as listed in the guidance notes of 8.1 of the
LEAF Marque Global Standard.
The plan aims to enhance the farm to encourage greater biodiversity and is linked
to any Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP’s) that exist in the local area or country.
You must ensure that decisions made in relation to direct production practices
such as agronomic, crop protection and animal husbandry take account of this
Whole Farm Conservation Plan (WFCP) and its objects to protect and enhance
the wildlife and landscape on your Farm. Farming and Environment are
inseparably linked.
The Whole Farm Conservation Plan sits alongside, and forms part of, the farm’s
Farm Environmental Policy and Farm Environmental Plan (CFP* 1.6, 1.7 and
1.8).
You must ensure that the Whole Farm Conservation Plan is an integral part of
your farming system, and that decisions made in relation to agronomic practices
take account of the objectives in the Whole Farm Conservation Plan to protect
and enhance the wildlife and landscape on the farm (CFP 8.3).
NB *CFP = Critical Failure Point throughout this document; R = Recommended.
Associated paragraph numbers refer to the LEAF Marque Global Standard,
Version 9.0
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3 Action Plan
Summary of the agreed actions and proposed timings to be updated annually
refer to CFP 8.2, 8.21, 8.22.
The associated map will correspond with the five year action plan and show
where work will be / has been carried out. The plan (and audit) should ideally be
completed or reviewed by a specialist advisor and must be regularly reviewed (at
least every five years by the specialist advisor). The plan will be updated annually
by the farmer and always have a five year work programme.
Please see the LEAF Marque resource page for more information.
http://www.leafuk.org/resources/000/673/252/Whole_Farm_Conservation_Act
ion_Plan_2012.pdf
Please see Appendix for Action Plan.
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4 Key Wildlife Habitats
General requirements and recommendations.
It is recommended that 5% of the farm should be available for wildlife habitat.
This can include hedges, ditches and woodland, as well as uncropped margins
and Environmental Stewardship options such as wild bird seed mixture and
nectar flower mixture (R 8.23).
LEAF Marque requires you to include in your Whole Farm Conservation Plan all
land that you hold on a tenancy or by any other formal agreement for a period
longer than three years. Where you hold land on agreements lasting less than
three years, you should check whether the landlord is a member of LEAF Marque
or LEAF, and whether they have carried out a LEAF audit. This is so that you will
be aware of any conservation management the landlord has put in place and can
integrate it into your management of his land. If the landlord is not a LEAF
member, you must carry out an environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the
rented land (or any other land you may rent in future). As part of this process you
must ask to see any relevant documentation your landlord may hold, e.g.
conservation plans or audits, Environmental Stewardship maps etc. In the
absence of any such documentation, you should keep copies of your initial
correspondence requesting it and the landlord’s response (CFP 8.4).
If you rent land out yourself, you should encourage your tenants to adopt
integrated farming principles by becoming LEAF members and becoming LEAF
Marque certified. If you hold the LEAF Marque certificate for your tenants’ land,
the tenants cannot sell their produce as LEAF Marque unless they are approved
separately (R 8.5).
It is recommended that farm staff is actively involved in the planning of habitat
creation environmental improvement. Ensure that staff has access to all relevant
conservation plans and maps (R 8.21).
Similarly, you are encouraged to involve farm staff and local interest groups in the
monitoring of key indicator species and the effects of your adoption of Integrated
farm Management (IFM) on the farm (R 8.22).
4.1 Hedgerows
LEAF Marque Global Standard.
You must not remove or destroy hedges (or any other type of traditional field
boundary) on the farm; nor must you remove woodlands or other high carbon
stock land (CFP 8.7).
Hedges must not be trimmed during the observed nesting period. Trimming or
management can only be carried out more often than every two or three years
where this can be justified, e.g. for road safety reasons. Hedge and boundary
management in general must be in accordance with this WFCP (CFP 8.8).
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There is an extensive network of very well managed hedgerows on the farm.
Much work has been done to the hedgerows over recent years including entering
some into a coppicing cycle, laying some and gapping up others.
They now
form continuous corridors for wildlife.
The hedgerows are mainly hawthorn with hedgerow trees, however a number of
the hedgerows are along parish boundaries and these are of mixed species
including field maple, blackthorn, hawthorn and hazel.
They are managed under the Entry Level Scheme and cut every other year.
4.2 Ditches
LEAF Marque Global Standard.
Ditch maintenance (cutting and clearing of ditch side vegetation, re-profiling)
should be restricted to one side of individual ditches in any one year.
Maintenance must not be carried out during the bird nesting season. Where
more frequent management is required, for reasons of unimpeded drainage, this
should be justified (CFP 8.9).
Note the need to manage ditch and watercourse edges in order to protect them
from pollution, runoff or erosion resulting from overgrazing or inappropriate
livestock access (CFP 5.1).
Livestock must be managed in an appropriate way in order to protect wildlife and
water quality (CFP 5.6).
The ditches on the farm are agriculture ditches and managed under ELS as per
the LEAF Marque standards above.
4.3 Trees
LEAF Marque Global Standard.
Where required, you must obtain an appropriate felling licence before felling trees
on the farm. Wherever possible, trees should be retained in order to maintain
landscape character. Where older trees exist, consider new planting of trees as
future replacements (CFP 8.10).
Retain all hedgerow, boundary and infield trees unless they are a potential
hazard (CFP 8.11).
Don’t deep cultivate under infield tree canopies, and ensure there is a two metre
margin against woodland edge or boundary trees (CFP 8.12).
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There are few in field trees in the arable fields on the farm but they are managed
under ELS and not cultivated under the canopy.
Mature parkland trees survive in what was once part of a registered park and
garden and are managed under HLS.
The hedgerow trees occur on a number of boundaries and are protected by field
margins.
4.4 Field Margins
LEAF Marque Global Standard.
All fields over 2ha in size should have an uncultivated, uncropped margin at least
two metres wide against all permanent field boundary features (hedges, ditches,
woodland). This margin should be measured from the centre of the hedge, the
edge of woodland, or the edge of the water in a ditch. NB This is slightly different
from cross compliance (CFP 8.13).
These two metre margin strips should receive no fertilisers, no pesticides (except
spot treatment for noxious weeds), and should be cut in late summer, preferably
removing the cuttings. Where possible, grazing every two or three years is also
approved management (CFP 8.14).
If margins are seeded, rather than allowed to regenerate naturally, native species
should be used as far as possible, and (again, as far as possible) seed should be
of local provenance (CFP 8.16).
You must make every effort to ensure that margins are not driven on or used for
turning. Contamination of hedge bottoms, watercourses and the two metre
margins must be avoided (CFP 8.17).
In addition to the cross compliance buffer zones, two, four and six metre margins
have been added to all field boundaries. These margins are well established and
managed under ELS. In addition to their wildlife benefit they act as buffers
against all the watercourses on the farm.
4.5 Conservation Headlands / Habitat Provision
LEAF Marque Global Standard.
It is recommended that measures be adopted to provide nesting, summer food
and winter food habitats for farmland birds, or habitat for other native fauna as
appropriate – e.g. low input or unharvested cereal headlands, nectar flower
mixtures, cultivated, uncropped margins, etc. (R 8.24).
Unharvested fertiliser free conservation headlands were introduced on the farm
under HLS. A 6 metre headland runs alongside a strip of wild bird seed mix and
a strip of pollen and nectar thus providing a diversity of habitat between the crop
and hedgerow.
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4.6 Arable / Uncropped Land
LEAF Marque Global Standard.
Depending on soil type and the crop rotation, it may be possible to leave some
land uncropped (e.g. as overwintered stubble) or grow spring-sown crops for the
benefit of wildlife (R 8.19).
Avoid nesting birds when carrying out field operations. Mark nests in the field as
appropriate. Spray rather than cultivate setaside or fallowed fields, avoid cutting
headlands in perennial crops (e.g. orchards) until after the nesting season (CFP
8.20).
Eight hectares of over-wintered stubble are left each year, primarily to provide
winter food for birds. Managed under ELS/HLS the stubble is not sprayed
allowing weeds to grow and provide additional seed.
4.7 Farm Roads / Tracks
LEAF Marque Global Standard.
There are no specific LEAF requirements relating to the management of farm
roads and tracks. (Note: green tracks are allowed initially as part of the farm’s 2m
margins - see CFP 8.13, section 4.5 above, but note CFP 8.17).
A well maintained farm track runs through the farm to provide good access and
minimise trafficking across fields to gain access to further fields
4.8 Grassland
LEAF Marque Global Standard.
Permanent grassland may require an environmental impact assessment to be
undertaken if it is planned to plough it (CFP 8.6).
Avoid nesting birds when carrying out field operations. Mark nests in the field as
appropriate. Use wildlife-friendly cutting techniques when cutting hay or silage,
e.g. cutting from the centre outwards (CFP 5.2 and 8.20).
Note the need to manage pond and watercourse edges in order to protect them
from pollution, runoff or erosion from overgrazing or inappropriate livestock
access (CFP 5.1).
Livestock must be managed in an appropriate way in order to protect wildlife and
water quality (CFP 5.6).
The grassland forms an increasingly important part in the farming and
environmental management of Home Farm as the livestock enterprises increase.
There are small old pasture fields with ridge and furrow, a parkland parcel and
recently created parcels of arable reversion. All have been linked up to provide a
corridor of sensitively managed grassland across the main holding at Screveton.
The grassland is grazed with rare breed sheep.
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4.9 Ponds
LEAF Marque Global Standard.
There are no specific LEAF requirements relating to ponds, but note the need to
manage pond edges in order to protect them from pollution, runoff or erosion
from overgrazing or inappropriate livestock access. (CFP 5.1).
Livestock must be managed in an appropriate way in order to protect wildlife and
water quality. (CFP 5.6).
There are a number of ponds on the holding which have historically been
protected with buffers such that they have developed good marginal vegetation.
The ponds support good numbers of dragonflies.
4.10 Woodland
LEAF Marque Global Standard.
Where required, you must obtain an appropriate felling licence before felling trees
on the farm (CFP 8.10).
Ensure there is a two metre margin against woodland edge trees (CFP 8.12).
Livestock must be managed in an appropriate way in order to protect wildlife and
water quality (CFP 5.6).
A woodland management plan was commissioned for the four parcels of
woodland on the farm. The objectives of the management are to:
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Enhance the semi-natural character of the woods: decrease extent of non
native or invasive tree species
Target management for biodiversity, mainly through diversification of age
structure, stand types, balanced with non-intervention areas
Increase density and diversity of shrub component through selective
thinning of canopy
Free areas of natural regeneration by opening up canopy to allow light to
reach ground
Maintain and enhance both standing and fallen deadwood habitat
Extend woodland through planting on adjacent farmland to enhance
opportunities for wildlife
Much of this work has now been carried out and on going work will continue to
primarily keep the canopy open.
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4.11 Orchards
LEAF Marque Global Standard.
Avoid cutting headlands in orchards until after the nesting season (CFP 8.20).
Livestock must be managed in an appropriate way in order to protect wildlife and
water quality (CFP 5.6).
An orchard management plan was commissioned to enhance an existing area of
orchard and create a new area of orchard nearby.
All of the work to the existing orchard has now been carried out. Additionally a
further area of orchard was created with 70 fruit trees of apples, pears, plums and
damsons. Old varieties were used and have established very well. They are now
undergoing a cycle of pruning .
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5 Key Species
It is recommended that measures be adopted to provide nesting, summer food
and winter food habitats for farmland birds, or habitat for other native fauna as
appropriate – e.g. low input or unharvested cereal headlands, nectar flower
mixtures, cultivated, uncropped margins, etc. (R 8.24).
Several once common birds of farmland have declined nationally in the last 20
years. They include the grey partridge, skylark, linnet, tree sparrow and lapwing.
A bird survey was carried out across Home Farm in May 2009 and many bird
species were recorded including the following key species
5.1 Key Species 1
Lapwing
Habitat: All types of farmland, but prefers
mixed farming systems and extensively
managed wet grasslands. Prefers ‘wide and
open landscapes’ during breeding season to
avoid predators
Food: A surface feeding bird that benefits
from a mosaic of spring-sown crops, setaside, grazed pastures and marshes that will
provide a year round source of invertebrates.
Chicks are often taken considerable distances
to wet grassland, which provides a particularly
rich source of earthworms, leatherjackets, beetle larvae, etc.
Nesting: Breeds from March to July on spring sown crops and short grasslands.
Nests (simple scrapes in the ground) are very vulnerable to spring cultivations, grass
harrowing and high stocking rates.
Importance: RSPB ‘red list’ species. Local BAP species.
Beneficial management:
 Spring cropping and the maintenance of a short sward on wet or rushy pastures will
provide ideal nesting conditions.
 Aim to ensure field operations and stocking rates do not destroy nests.
 Pastures that stay wet into early summer are particularly valuable feeding areas.
Consider options such as raising water levels or excavating shallow scrapes.
 Set-aside can provide nesting opportunities if the green cover is comparatively
sparse and open.
Consider newly available options within agri-environment schemes such as spring
cropping and summer fallows.
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5.2 Key species 2
Skylark
Habitat: The Skylark is the definitive bird of
open farmland, preferring larger arable and
grassland fields. The openness and short
vegetation allows sighting of potential
predators.
Food: Adults feed on a range of seeds and
plant shoots including knotgrass, groundsel,
fat hen and grasses. Chicks are entirely
dependent on insects until fledging,
favouring sawfly larvae, beetles, ants,
spiders and grasshoppers.
Nesting: Breeding takes place between April and August. Skylark nest on the
ground in short grass or crops, avoiding vegetation over 60cm high. Due to high
predation rates Skylark need to produce up to three broods a season. Winter sown
crops and silage fields are only suitable for a single brood, making set-aside and
spring crops essential to maintain adult populations
Importance: 75% decline since 1970. National BAP species. RSPB 'Red List'
species.
Beneficial management:
 Include a spring cereal as part of the arable rotation. This provides ideal and much
needed late season nesting habitat. Consider newly available options under agrienvironment schemes.
 Manage set-aside sympathetically to provide a source of winter food and a nesting
habitat in spring/summer.
 Non-rotational set-aside will provide similar conditions and can attract very high
breeding densities. Use the management allowances to create a range of grass
heights and structures.
 Sympathetically manage grasslands or moorland as both feeding and nesting
habitat.
 Be mindful of nesting birds and fledglings when cutting silage or set-aside land.
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5.3 Key species 3
Yellowhammer
Habitat:
Mixed farmland with well
managed hedgerows and scrub. In
winter favours winter stubbles, natural
regenerated set-aside, game cover,
farmyards with livestock and feeding
stations where grain cleanings have
been put out for finches, sparrows and
buntings.
Food: Adults feed on a wide range of
plant seeds, including dead nettles, groundsel, sorrel and cereal grains. Chicks
dependent on insects for first week of live. Adults will also take insects in the
breeding season.
Nesting: Nests on or close to the ground in short (less than 2 metres), dense
hedgerows, field margins with long grass, scrub and the edges of woodland.
Particularly favours dense hedges next to ditches. Birds will often continue breeding
into August, so making them particularly vulnerable to early hedge trimming
immediately after harvest.
Importance: 54% decline since 1970. Local BAP Species.
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Beneficial management:
Ensure a year round source of food. Field margins, winter stubbles and wild bird
seed crops provide winter seeds for adults. Field margins, set-aside land and
unimproved grasslands provide rich insect foraging areas for chicks.
Adopt a range of trimming styles and hedge types around the farm. Maintain some
as short, dense features and allow others to develop into taller, untrimmed features.
Establish extended field margins around arable fields. Not only will these provide
additional habitat, but allow more sympathetic timing of hedge cutting.
5.4 Key species 4
Linnet
Habitat: A wide range of habitats is used
including areas of scrub, wasteland, heath
and urban areas. On farmland, Linnets
can be found wherever there is a plentiful
supply of seeds.
Food:
Linnets and their chicks rely
entirely on seeds throughout the year.
Adults will favour stubbles and set-aside
land through the winter where weed seed
and split grains are abundant. Dandelion
seeds in pasture are particularly important. Chicks feed on weed seeds and unripe
oilseed rape grains.
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Nesting: 0-2m up in thick, well maintained thorn hedges, bramble patches and
areas of scrub.
Importance: 54% decline since 1970. UK BAP species.
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Beneficial management:
As Linnets are particularly reliant on seeds, wild bird seed crops are extremely
beneficial. These can be grown on set-aside and now through the Countryside
Stewardship scheme.
Tolerate a few ‘weeds’ such as Dandelion in improved pastures and aim to maintain
all areas of unimproved grassland.
Allow a naturally regenerated green cover to develop on set-aside land. Leave
destruction of the green cover as late as possible in the summer.
Retain areas of rough grass and bramble around the farm. Avoid being ‘over tidy’ as
this will reduce feeding and nesting opportunities.
Establish extended field margins in arable and grassland fields and manage these
with a rotational cut so as to allow grasses and broadleaves to set seed and carry
them through the winter.
LEAF Marque Global Standard.
Your Whole Farm Conservation Plan must list key species present on the farm
and, identify 4 specific species (or collection of species) as a focus of your Whole
Farm Conservation Plan. The action plan and map will help to inform all staff of
the features and management that is or will be carried out as well as your
targeted key species (CFP 8.2, 8.21 and 8.22).
6 Archaeological / Historic Features
LEAF Marque Global Standard.
Do not damage or destroy nationally or locally important historic features
(monuments, earthworks, sites of archaeological and historical interest) by
farming activities, including subsoiling, unauthorised excavation, land
reclamation, levelling, tipping, infilling, woodland clearance, tree-planting,
damage by livestock (CFP 8.18).
A Historic Consultation with Notts County Council was carried out under HLS and
the features it identified are now being managed under that scheme:
 A crop mark complex on the holding that it would want to see taken out of
cultivation. This was achieved through arable reversion. The grass is now
managed as pasture to protect these important archaeological sites.
 The Fosse Way which runs parallel to the holding is an important roman
road and so 6m margins have been introduced along the field boundaries
that abut it.
 Ridge and furrow in the grass fields at Screveton has been protected by
retaining the fields as pasture.
 One land parcel is part of a registered park and garden giving it landscape
and historic importance. It is now managed as parkland under HLS.
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7 Access
LEAF Marque Global Standard.
All public and traditional paths must be clear of obstructions and all
infrastructures (gates, stiles etc) kept in good condition (CFP 9.2).
All public rights of way should be clearly marked (R 9.3).
In addition to maintaining the public rights of way on the farm permissive
access has been created to link up the public rights of way and to permissive
access on adjacent farms. The resultant network of footpaths is providing
much used access for local villagers.
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8 Further Help
Subject
Contact
Website
Waste, Pollution, Water
Management
Environment Agency
08708 506506
www.environmentagency.gov.uk
Cross Compliance
Advise Service
0845 3451302
www.defra.gov.uk/farmingadvice
Rural Payments Agency
0845 6018045
www.rpa.gov.uk
Farm
Single Payment Scheme
Appendices
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Habitat map
Bird Survey
Action Plan
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