On Monday 23rd March, we explored the fascinating world of soil health and biology during a training event with Herefordshire Wildlife Trust volunteers at Bartonsham Meadows – a large scale, nature restoration project in the city centre. We started with a whirlwind introduction to soil parameters- a huge topic to be covered in just a short time! Then, we got hands-on outside,… Read more →
On Tuesday 15th July, a group of Wyescapes farmers and land managers gathered at Caradoc Farm to take part in our technical session on floodplain grassland restoration. We were supported by Floodplain Meadows Partnership Project Manager, Emma Rothero and Dreda Darling, who generously shared her experiences of the recent grassland restoration, and kindly delayed the haylage cut to accommodate our… Read more →
With the recent heatwave affecting grass growth, fodder supply has been a growing concern for many farmers. At our farm walk on Thursday 10th July at Boycefield Farm, we explored three grazing systems that can help build farm resilience: Some excellent conversations about building up farm soils took place, and the key takeaways were: As we walked and talked, the… Read more →
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… Read more →
Herefordshire Meadows is excited to be involved in a new Wye Valley AONB project to provide support to grassland farmers and land managers in the Herefordshire portion of the Wye Valley AONB. This work is funded by the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) Programme, which is being administered by the Wye Valley AONB on behalf of DEFRA, as part of… Read more →
On 12th July Annie Landless, Community Development coordinator at Vidacycle, led an introductory session to the Soilmentor app for 20 of our core group members. The Soilmentor software is designed to help farmers learn what healthy soils and flourishing biodiversity look like on a farm and enable farmers to make better informed farm management decisions. Participants were first given a… Read more →
Dr Christine Jones is an internationally renowned and highly respected groundcover and soils ecologist. She has a wealth of experience working with innovative landholders to implement regenerative land management practices that enhance biodiversity, increase biological activity, sequester carbon, activate soil nutrient cycles, restore water balance, improve productivity and create new topsoil. In a recent webinar on 11th February Dr… Read more →
Source: Farmers Weekly, 19th Oct 2020: How soil focus avoids supplementary feeding on Welsh farm Geraint Powell, situated near Hay-on-Wye, manages his Welsh livestock using a grazing system dictated by a strict pasture recovery. This system is building soil organic matter and increasing plant diversity, enabling him to produce lamb from grass only. Central to Mr Powell’s system is allowing… Read more →
Talking Soil: Nicole Masters in conversation with Tim Williams Date: Wednesday 24th June Time: 7.30pm British Summer Time We are very excited to be able to bring to you one of the leading advocates and knowledge bases of regenerative farming practices. During this session Nicole will discuss the absolute importance of soil health within a pastured system, touching on… Read more →
Beetlemania – you’ll never pass a cowpat again without wanting to look inside. Regen Ag Chat on 26 May 2020 was on the topic of dungbeetles with Darren and Ceri Mann and Irish Dairy Farmer and Nuffield Scholar Bruce Thompson. This is the fourth Carbon Calling ReGen LIVE Chat with Liz Genever and Nic Renison. It’s well worth the time… Read more →
