Landscape Matters Issue 4 FINAL - Flipbook - Page 21
and Oats follow which nurture arable weeds, tolerated
because of careful management so there is no economic
damage caused. The final seeding includes the grasses and
herbs for the next 6 years of grazing.
Nationally there is a very good number of reasons for moving
sharply away from mono culture across both permanent
grassland and arable sectors. It is also very important to
increase the organic matter in our soils. Raising organic
matter in our soils will increase the water holding capacity
of the land, it will increase the microbial activity in the soils
to secure nutrient release and improved fertility, it will
create the optimum conditions for soil creation, it will build
improved resilience as well as increasing the sequestration
of soil carbon. The microbial health of the soil builds the best
foundation for nature recovery. At last we have Government
scientists who acknowledge that the unintended
consequences for all the current pesticides have not been
accounted for. Cholderton uses no pesticides, relying on
biodiversity for its biosecurity.
Cholderton is producing great food without polluting the air
and the water. The estate is climate positive for the next 50
years. It is by the WildlifeTrust’s and Plantlife’s definition
one of the richest estates for biodiversity anywhere in
the country, far richer than the re-wilded Knepp Estate. It
demonstrates that very significant quantities of carbon can
be sequestrated by commercial farms across the country
if national Policy encourages it. Put simply, the English
countryside would be transformed if this model were to be
replicated across the nation and that is perfectly possible to
do.
Watch the film we have made:- https://youtu.be/-Bd_wzyq6r8
If you want more information and copies of the technical
reports please do not hesitate to contact me at mhdt@
btinternet.com
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