Environmental Stewardship at Coakham Farm
Coakham Farm, Pootings Road is entering its 10th and final year of a grant scheme provided ultimately from Europe, but through Natural England in the UK, called Higher Level Stewardship.
What you will not realise is that we had to competitively tender for it. The farm is 380 acres in size and extends south to Marlpit Hill and as far north, along the Edenbridge Road, to almost Dennetsland Road and to the East – Pootings Road.
I think we were successful in obtaining our grant because we had already demonstrated our green credentials (by name and nature!) by planting a 5-acre wild-flower meadow, under our own initiative, the previous year. We had carefully sourced the seed locally, knowing that it had come from the Weald. Knowing its provenance was important to us.
Another reason for Natural England’s support was due to the fact that we have a broad range of wildlife, in a varied landscape. At the bottom of the farm, we have huge flat fields, with a tributary to the River Eden running through them. At the top of the farm the fields are much smaller with many big ditches that carry the water down and away from Crockham Hill to the tributary. We are very fortunate to have some glorious oak trees.
Over the last 10 years I would like to think that we have improved the numbers and species on the farm, although sadly we did not audit our position at the start of our grant to determine the success of our achievements today. However, prior to obtaining HLS, we did have the benefit of an RSPB survey and over the years I have been able to add to the list of birds that they identified. New additions include the lesser spotted woodpecker, green finches, wheatears and lapwings. And people do say they hear more owls around. This could be because of our assisting Kent Wildlife Trust in creating an owl corridor between Edenbridge and Sevenoaks.
Under HLS we had various management options that we chose to follow. We had two principles that we wanted to achieve. The first was to create a large haven for vertebrates and invertebrates in the centre of the farm, effectively based around our initial wild-flower meadow. Secondly, we wanted to allow the animals, insects and flowers enough space around the edges of the newly created arable fields on the whole farm, to feed and breed, so we opted for wide headlands (between the hedges and the farmed area) where no tractors or huge possies of horses are allowed to travel on. In addition, to support this, we opted for reduced hedge cutting to every two or (in some cases) three years to assist nesting birds. Imagine what your garden hedge would look like if you did that!
We have also opted to improve a pond, which we will be doing this winter by cutting back trees around the edge to bring more light on and into the pond and attempt to remove an invasive species that seems to be strangling the whole water area. We want safe areas for our birds, mammals and invertebrates.
During the summer months, we watch the grasshoppers grow in size, the wild flowers extend further and settle in to a balanced rhythm within the wild flower field, huge areas of butterflies and moths dance over other areas that have been planted for their benefit. Stubble fields are left uncultivated over the winter to allow the birds to feed and nest in the more difficult times.
With the end of the scheme, this year, I am sad. We will continue doing what we do here, even without the benefit of this grant scheme as we think the farm, and nature, really benefits from this style of management. The new Environmental Land Management System (ELMS), replacing the Common Agricultural Policy and our scheme should increase the incentives for farmers to nurture wildlife and biodiversity (more of which will be explained in the subsequent newsletters when the Government provides us with the details). However, this will take time and not all farmers will have the luxury to wait for the new scheme. The agricultural industry is in trouble.
I have really enjoyed being part of the Wilding group within Crockham Hill. I have learnt a lot and been able to provide a farmer’s view on helping to manage nature that we all enjoy. The Wilding booklet that we have produced is a first guide to making our beautiful area more wildlife friendly www.wildliferestoration.org and now we have the ability to manage a small area of land close to the Church, and enhance the grassland by planting a wildlife meadow along the lines of Coakham and other farmed fields in the area.
