Not wanting to shy away from robust debate, YFC AGRI went to the source of a controversial topic at the Knepp Castle Estate, West Sussex for its first regional farm visit. Famous or infamous for its established rewilding project and safaris, the day gave a diverse group of young farmers and guests the chance to explore Knepp’s established rewilding project and safaris as well as see the estate’s regenerative farm development. With the welcome addition of Henry Leveson-Gower, lead on Defra’s New Entrants Scheme, the visit set the scene for discussion and consideration of the effectiveness and ambition of emerging policies, land management and next generation aspirations.
One of the day’s objectives was to consider putting emerging policy into profitable farming and environmental practice, so questions posed from next generation farmers, land-based workers, students and horticulturists were helpful for all. How to feed the world and enhance the environment, considerations for animal welfare and climate change and finding a way to ensure global sustainable food were amongst concerns. The group also shared their career and conservation considerations as well as examples of existing agri-environmental achievements.
The day’s visit and presentations highlighted the estate’s work, hearing from ecologist and safari guide Laurie Jackson and farm manager Russ Carrington, as they explained the aims and progress of their respective work. Russ considers regenerative agriculture pivotal for the future of food production and his belief that the approach cannot only heal previous ecological damage, but also increase the land’s overall fertility and productivity. Laurie talked about her former conservation work with the Wildlife Trusts and Birdlife before her current work at Knepp. She explained that different species were left to shape their own habitats and of the many, mutually beneficial results of the interaction of species.
There is no doubt that both policy suggestions and actual rewilding activity have polarised opinions and reactions, so the safari walk led by Laurie encouraged informed observation, and conversation. The ‘hands off’ approach had created wildlife habitats within hedges and lags (floodplain areas) ideal for surveying and recording. Letting the landscape and livestock manage the land had some positive and surprising results such as ambient conditions for the rare Purple Emperor butterfly and a plentiful supply of food for pre-migrating birds. Beavers sourced from Scotland had been introduced to the estate under licence and despite a couple of jailbreaks, re-captured quickly with support from the communities visited! With the missing link of top of the food chain predators at the estate, culling takes place not only for habitat control, but also for business viability through the sale of meat.
Diversification within the rewilding area on the estate includes a popular glamping and camping business to help encourage visitors’ awareness of nature and to sow seeds of understanding for our natural environment; a farm shop; livery yard and visitor centre. Continued engagement with the public, whether to highlight food, farming or nature, helps with a much-needed understanding of fundamental components for our natural environment.
Laurie highlighted the old saying ‘thorn is the mother of the oak’ by showing how natural vegetation creates tree guards. Animals including extensive pigs (whose excessive routing create open seedbeds and habitats for invertebrates and Turtle doves), Longhorn cattle and deer all contribute to the natural habitat and of course highlights for visitors walking on the safari trail. Perhaps the most spectacular an unexpected treat for visitors are storks nesting or in flight.
For Russ, his advocacy and now practice of regenerative farming principles are work in progress. His passion for sharing regenerative principles of keeping soil surfaces covered, limiting disturbance, ensuring diversity and living roots and including livestock within the ecology are firmly in place within the estate’s farm – a separate area to that which has been rewilded.
There was some welcome methane myth-busting facts before the farm walk with a reminder of the cow’s role in a natural carbon cycle, the poetic licence of the media and contribution from human carbon, fossil fuels and transportation playing their parts in the climate crisis. Also, the importance and relevance of what happens to methane and how it’s managed to counteract the finger of blame often pointed at cattle.
Visiting the emerging enterprise of Knepp’s organic pasture-fed Sussex suckler herd and free-range hen enterprise was a chance to highlight and discuss some future opportunities and challenges for next generation farmers including the pros and cons of grants for purchasing new equipment, future business opportunities and cost-effectiveness of technology. Alternative approaches included incorporating woodchip from ash die-back for cattle bedding, and the subsequent composting of the bedding to provide fertility for the market garden, and the continued establishment of a less-improved Sussex suckler herd to enable more outwintering of cattle on rough grazing without supplementary feeding.
Russ demonstrated a resilient grazing system with 24-hour movement of the suckler herd. For a 100% grass fed herd with no inputs, grass quality and management is essential. Although affected by the recent drought, the pasture bounced back quickly from adverse conditions due to deep root establishment and careful management. The beef suckler herd is one of the four enterprises (three established and one to be established) for supplying food to local communities and providing public goods for public money. A small dairy herd will be the fourth component to join the existing market garden, free range hen and beef enterprises.
The free-range hens played their part in land management by cleaning up after grazing herbivores while feeding and subsequent egg production. Moved once a fortnight and protected by electric, fox-proof fencing, the return of Avian flu and subsequent housing restrictions are a looming threat, but otherwise a welcome addition for the farm’s cash flow.
Assessing what is being regenerated and applying the best science possible by collecting data for evidence is all part of Russ’s work and objectives. With help from Sussex University for soil assessments, it’s already been proved that there is more life within pastures than there was twelve months’ ago despite recent drought conditions. Data collected from weighing cattle, GPS cattle collars (for virtual fencing as well as data collection) and hedgerow growth for natural habitat corridors, ensure the combination of regenerative principles and science are incorporated into efficient farm management. A final consideration from Russ is that this practice certainly isn’t an abandonment of the land, but facilitating its management with new perspectives.