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a small hole in a place that has been untouched, like the bottom of a hedge. Crumbly, friable and a nice sweet ‘earthy’ smell is what I hope you will find; and, if you find lots of worms there, even better.


Our hay meadows are usually ready to cut around Wimbledon time, but we have left them a bit later this year. Partly due to the slightly catchy weather, but also because we wanted to allow them a bit more time to go to seed. The principle of a hay meadow is that it is self-perpetuating, for free. So, instead of renewing the field every few years, you allow what is there to go to seed and when it is cut, or grazed, those seeds will fall on to the field and some of them will grow. Even if only a small percentage of the seeds manage to germinate, it still means there is new growth in the field every year.


We also need some kind of animal impact. That might be a mole hill, an animal digging a small hole or sheep causing some surface damage on a wet day, to allow those seeds and ones that are in the soil to have a chance to grow. We have seen a few herbs and grasses appear across the farm as we make changes and manage the land differently, building in planned rest periods to the grazing plan.


Skylarks have also benefitted from the changes we are making. It is anecdotal of course, but I am sure I have heard more skylark song over the past few weeks than in previous years. Maybe it is just the season, but I think allowing them more time between grazing and cutting the fields where they live has helped them. Their song is my favourite part of any walk across the farm. They need a period of seven weeks between cutting or grazing to have the best chance of rearing a successful brood of chicks, another reason to try and plan longer rest periods and graze taller grass in some fields!


It is at times of adversity that you can learn the most however and I have learned two such lessons in the past few weeks. The value of a species rich 'herbal' ley cannot be underestimated, for all the reasons already discussed and that organic matter is key.


We have a field of wheat that I drilled in October. The field had previously been in grass for around ten years. On that field I cannot see any yellow patches at all. Granted our soil is quite a heavy clay loam and it does retain moisture, but it is the high organic matter content of that soil, which has helped it retain moisture and withstand the dry weather. It has been said before, but sometimes the old ways are the best. 'Corn and horn' or cereals and livestock; on our farm the traditional mixture is certainly showing its benefits this year.


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ENTERTAINMENT ON THE FARM


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