HOLKHAM BY JAMES BEAMISH
“Our farmland is a rich tapestry of life: we create wide grass and wildflower margins; leave hedges to grow broad and tall to encourage richer biodiversity; champion cover-cropping, conservation and tree planting; and are working on restoring historic ponds. We believe farming and conservation go hand-inhand.” Agriculture has always played a fundamental role at Holkham, and I am honoured to have the responsibility of managing our farming business today. Conservation and sustainability are at the heart of all our decision making, from the way we manage the farmland and Holkham National Nature Reserve to our attractions, parkland and gardens. In 2021 we launched WONDER, an action plan which sets out bold targets under the themes of championing low carbon living, stamping out waste and pioneering environmental gain. Over 3000 hectares of estate land is managed by my team at the Holkham Farming Company. Our farmland is a rich tapestry of life: we create wide grass and wildflower margins; leave hedges to grow broad and tall to encourage richer biodiversity; champion cover-cropping, conservation and tree planting; and are working on restoring historic ponds. We believe farming and conservation go hand-in-hand, so much so that we now have a trial farm site on the estate which is entirely dedicated to pushing the boundaries of this relationship. Arable farming, conservation and livestock can be seen living alongside each other across the entire estate. Belted Galloways graze on the Holkham National Nature Reserve (NNR) throughout the warmer months, and our flocks of sheep are integrated as a grazing tool around the park and farmland. The herd of cattle are hardy and adaptable and, together with our sheep and the deer from within the park, provide good quality meat to local butchers, Holkham’s three cafés and The Victoria, our hotel and restaurant which sits on the edge of the NNR. When it comes to cropping, we are fortunate to be in what is classed as the ‘champagne’ region of malting barley, and we now partner Adnams in Suffolk with a large proportion of the barley used to brew their award-winning ales. We also grow sugar beet, which is supplied to British Sugar, as well as wheat, oilseed rape, beans and maize. The latter is used in the anaerobic digestion plant we have onsite, which creates enough energy to power our local area and a soil improver that goes back onto our land. Alongside this, we also have a solar farm. The collective knowledge and expertise between myself and my colleagues Jake Fiennes (conservation), Harry Wakefield (forestry) and Mark Fitzer (game keeping) makes us a formidable team and it is this rare mix, together with our vision and ambitions at Holkham, that allows us to forge ahead and lead the way in influencing positive change.
FOR THE LOVE OF THE LAND II PAGE 14
