News


Shropshire farm is haven for wildlife and habitats


livestock producers to look after wildlife.


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Sheep and beef producer Rob Alderson opened the gates at Upper Walton Farm, Onibury, to wildlife specialists who recorded nearly 170 plants and 100 ani- mals – including rare bird spe- cies and nationally scarce beetles.


Unexpected finds Organised by NFU, the Farm Na- ture Discovery Day saw NFU West Midlands environment ad- viser Sarah Faulkner join Adri- an Pickles and Sue Townsend of the Field Studies Council on the Mr Alderson’s farm. Other interesting fi nds includ- ed nine plants of note including the common Twayblade orchid


Shropshire farmer has highlighted the work done by growers and


and more unexpected species. Red list birds included skylark, tree sparrow, yellow hammer, lin- net and song thrush.


Although farmers remain food producers fi rst and foremost, Mrs Faulkner said they were also com- mitted to enhancing the farmed environment – and doing what they could to benefi t species and protect resources like soil and water. “As an industry farmers are given advice on environmental management. Farmers are also genuinely interested in species that can be found on their busi- nesses so this was a good oppor- tunity for Rob to get a really good snap-shot of what he has.


Thriving biodiversity “This event helped get the right people out and created a baseline


about what is there so that subse- quent schemes can be tailored to maximise habitat and create ad- ditional measures, to help species thrive and encourage new ones.” Mr Pickles said it was a great


day that helped add to Dield Studies Council records. The highlight was seeing the range of habitat and great diversity of species that can be presented on a well looked after farm. Mr Alderson farmers were of- ten told what they should be do- ing on their farms – using fairly random information from other organisations – when there was no formal assessment of what was there in the fi rst place.


“The event helped get the right people on farm and create a base-line about what I have. As farmers we’re growing and rear- ing food and have result driven


Plants included the common Twayblade orchid


businesses - there’s no reason why this type of event can’t help support an outcome-based ap- proach in future.”


Mastenbroek exhibits at Trimble virtual show


Self-propelled drainage trench- er manufacturer Mastenbroek will be exhibiting at this month’s Trimble Virtual Show.


on 10 December at www.trim- blevirtual.com.


The online show takes place Mastenbroek


staff will be on hand from 10am to 7pm – delivering presentations throughout the day and answer- ing questions from visitors. Mastenbroek and Trimble worked together to develop a GPS system for drainage trenchers.


The software is now incorporated into all of the company’s trench- ers. It is said to be much quick- er and more accurate than laser surveying.


It also reduces drainage in- stallation costs due to more ac- curate deployment of gravel fi ll. An on-board computerised


touch-screen display records each job detail, which can be easily downloaded for analysis and customer billing.


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Crow Tree Farm, Crow Tree Bank, Thorne Levels, Doncaster, S. Yorkshire, DN8 5TF 6 MIDLAND FARMER • DECEMBER 2020


Fred Clarke (pictured right) will deliver a keynote presentation about water management. Oth- er information will include ways Mastenbroek can help control surface water and run-off. Mastenbroek general man- ager Chris Pett said: “We work very closely with Trimble, and both companies are innovative thinkers as this event demon- strates. It should be an excel- lent day, and we are very much looking forward to it.”


Anglia Farmer


YOUR FIELD IS OUR FIELD


Midland Farmer


www.angliafarmer.co.uk www.midlandfarmer.co.uk 01502 725844


www.countrywidepublications.com


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