Site Last Updated
2 January 2008

Conserving wildlife at Kingsdown: a guided walk.

A dozen or so members of the Society met near Foxhunters on Sunday 3rd June, having been ‘postponed’ from the previous weekend because of wet conditions. The sun did not emerge until much later, but at least it was dry! Farm owner, and fellow Member, Neil Anderson took us across countryside that most had not seen before: a totally different ‘angle’ from the road-bound traveller. Our first stop was by a fine crop of peas. Neil explained that as well as being a marketable crop (for human consumption) peas were spring-sown, and thus followed an autumn/winter stubble period. This provides a refuge for wildlife, especially birds whose numbers had declined dramatically under intensive agriculture.  The mechanical ‘Scario’ scarecrow waved a welcome as we listened.

Hedges on the farm had been ‘gapped up’ to provide the continuous flight path favoured by bats.  We strolled along wide headlands devoted to broad leaved annuals such as birdsfoot trefoil and knapweed that provided pollen and nectar to encourage insects. Encouraging these led to greater numbers of birds, and thus supported the ‘food chain’ and a diversity of species. Under the new regime of agriculture, no crop should run right up to the field edge, and hedges should, ideally, be broadly triangular in section, so that several habitats could merge.

Other areas were devoted to summer fallow, again with pollen/nectar producers encouraged.

Arriving at Ludgate, Neil explained that farming had changed from solely producing crops, often to gain a subsidy, to a system where the farmer was paid a single annual payment related to the area of his farm. On top of this, owners could receive payment for entering various ‘levels’ of wildlife-enhancing ‘stewardship’ schemes. To gain this benefit they had to engage in low-intensity practices with minimal use of synthetic chemicals. His involvement in Operation Bumble Bee, aimed at stemming the decline of these vital pollinating insects, was an example of this approach. Several hectares had been put down to red clover mixes that favoured bumble bees.

The new way of farming was not without challenges: aggressive grass weeds were difficult to control without chemicals. There was also a problem of balance. The industrial crop oilseed rape produced environmentally friendly ‘biofuel’ – but it was a poor crop for supporting wildlife. There was a place for both.

Neil’s final point was that farmers had to make a living. They needed fair payment for producing crops and keeping our bountiful countryside in good shape. After the mental and physical exercise of the walk, we adjourned to Hare Cottage to sample Jenny’s delicious home-made cakes on the, by now sunny, terrace.

Bob Baxter

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