Diverse swards: grassland management for soil, biodiversity and profit

On Wednesday evening, Herefordshire Meadows hosted a joint event with Pasture for Life, delving into the myriad benefits of diverse swards in productive farming systems. The event was held at Upper Pengethley Farm, kindly hosted by the Partridge family.

Previously a mixed farm, the 260 acre parcel has made the change from arable to herbal leys, permanent pasture, and native species-rich grassland for the multiple benefits they bring such as, improving soils, resilience to drought from varying rooting depths, through to reduced inputs, and nutritional and health benefits for the flock of 270 breeding ewes and 35 suckler cows.

Julian Partridge has restored and managed species and flower-rich grassland for more than 20 years.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The meadows are cut for hay and aftermath grazed with cattle and sheep. They are thriving and full of insect activity on Wednesday evening. The herbal leys have a mix of at least 8 herbs and are performing really well too.

Lucinda Lewis, farmer from Dilwyn, Wye & Usk Foundation adviser and Herefordshire Meadows trustee,  discussed the benefits of herbal leys for soils and what support is available through SFI and Stewardship options.  Lucinda’s top tips include “be flexible, be patient and don’t expect it all to work in a picture book way. Have a go and work out your own way of doing herbal leys/diverse swards” 

Ruth Pullan, from Pasture for Life, spoke of the benefits of a pasture-fed system and the support on offer in their ‘Pasture and Profit in Protected Landscapes’ project in the Wye Valley National Landscape through the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme (FiPL) .

There was great interaction and sharing of ideas and experiences between the group. The benefits of managing diverse well rested grassland swards for soil health and carbon sequestration was part of the discussion too.  And there was a chance to see a recently planted Optimal Shelter Belt designed to allow the wind to pass through as well as over the top to provide shelter and shade for livestock.

Thank you to all who attended and our hosts and co-organisers.  It was great to have a joint event with Pasture for Life, Herefordshire Meadows and other Herefordshire farmers.  For more information about hay meadow restoration or management please get in touch with Herefordshire Meadows and for pasture fed livestock systems contact Pasture For Life 

This event was supported by generous donations to Herefordshire Meadows through the Big Green Give Campaign and through Pasture For Life’s FiPL project.