Pasture for Life – Biodiversity Case Studies
Pasture-fed livestock have many benefits. It increases the quality of life for livestock, produces higher quality products, uses local resources, and is good for the environment. Farming with nature rather than against it gives biodiversity the space to thrive. Reading through our biodiversity case studies, you cannot help but feel the interconnectedness of nature and farming, and how both “parties” benefit from each other’s presence.
In this blog, we explore some of the most common methods to farm for – and with – biodiversity, look at how to turn biodiversity efforts into economic profits, and where to look for support to embark on this journey. We do this by highlighting examples from our thirty biodiversity case studies, which we hope you will feel inspired to read in more detail.
Methods and Results
There are many ways to increase biodiversity on farms. Soil, weather, landscape, time constraints, access to information, and finances will largely decide what is possible. While this means there is no one correct “solution” to achieve a biodiverse farm, it can be a bit overwhelming when trying to figure out how to embark on this new journey. Luckily, there are some common methods in Pasture for Life’s biodiversity cases which should make it a bit easier to get started.
Mob Grazing
Sandy Hill Mob, Gloucestershire
Sandy Hill Mob, Gloucestershire
Sandy Lane Farm mob graze their cattle. They move the cattle around the farm using electric fencing and keep them as one group. Mob grazing has several benefits. Because the cattle are only ever on one small part of the farm at any one time, it means the remaining land is resting, regrowing and setting seed. And being “mobbed up”, the stock density of the cattle increases, which results in greater trampling activity. Some of the pasture is trampled into the soil which increases soil organic matter and helps feed all microorganisms. Another benefit is that the cattle do not have time to selectively graze out their favourite species, so there is a much more even diversity across the pasture allowing all species to thrive. New Holland Farm move their cattle daily and electric fences are used to divide the fields into paddocks. The exact size of paddock, number of animals and length of time all vary depending on weather and grass growth rate. Since mob grazing, their farm has seen an increase in plant species and the cattle have become much more easy to handle and seem more content.
Outwintering and bale grazing
Bale grazing, Carr Farm Norfolk
FAI Farms outwinter their cattle. The fields only get two grazes a year, thanks to their adaptive multi paddock (AMP) approach and have the best biodiversity recovery. The farm has some SSSI floodplain meadows with their haymaking area, bales from which they roll out for the cattle. This results in the seeds colonising the tired permanent pasture and creating more biodiversity. Carr Farm uses bale grazing on their winter grazing fields, which are sandy and gravelly soils. The soil benefits from getting the organic matter generated by rolling bales. They also found that bale grazing has many advantages over ring feeders, which cause compaction in fields. Bale grazing spreads the hay over a large area, so there is plenty of room for all cattle to feed without them bullying each other for space to eat. The hay residues are used as dry bedding by calves, and eventually trodden in providing organic matter to the soil, helping them be more drought resistant.
Creating space
Canopy of oak trees at Mill Barton Farm, Devon
Mill Barton Farm planted thousands of native trees to extend and connect established hedges, copses and woodland. This has become a healthy semi-mature woodland where they run their cattle through twice a year. They have nearly 6 km of hedgerows (newly planted and established), all of which are in a 10 – 20 year cut and lay rotation. When the farm got subjected to cold temperatures and strong easterly winds one spring, these hedges provided essential and natural shelter for their livestock, as well as a foraging and nesting habitat for invertebrates and birds, and provided a corridor for wildlife. They also increase sequestration. The hedges also retained water in the landscape and broke the wind. Besides this, they dug several ponds and shallow scrapes to provide water for livestock where there are no permanent troughs and to encourage more aquatic life. This additional way of water provision for livestock means their impact does not become an issue to the land (e.g., compaction or poaching). The ponds on the farm catch a lot of the nutrient leaching before it gets into the watercourse as well.
Barn owls, Turncroft Farm Nottinghamshire
Turncroft Farm planted four small copses of native trees on their farm, fenced old “gappy” hedges, and created a wildlife corridor. They erected several owl boxes which are surveyed by the BTO. Glancynin Farm also sees benefits from woodland and orchard creation and management, as well as digging and creating ponds, riverside corridors, and starting hedgerow restoration. All this provides corridors and habitat for wildlife, shelter for the cattle, and food for the livestock and wild birds.
Lofftwen Farm, Mid Wales
Lofftwen Farm creates biodiversity by adding bird boxes, using winter bird seed, blocking drainage channels, rewetting the land, and maintaining ancient trees and planting new ones. Woodland Valley Farm focuses on creating woodland pastures to give animals good shelter from winter storms. They introduced a pair of Eurasian beavers into an enclosure to have tightly focussed hydrological monitoring and learn more about the biodiversity that would come with the animals. This resulted in many advantages. Some examples are that peak flows are reduced by half on average, the stream now has four channels instead of one, a mass of silt accumulated (rich in nitrate, phosphate and organic matter), new habitats are created, and a stark increase in biodiversity of insects, birds, fish, and mammals. Peelham Farm has invested in reconstructing habitats such as mixed farmland and wetland to increase biodiversity on the farm, while also adding nesting boxes for vulnerable bird species.
Beaver, Woodland Valley Farm Cornwall
Cutting back
Grass vetchling, Romshed Farm, Kent
Balsar Glen stopped using anthelmintics for deworming on their cattle. The result is that cattle dung is now a healthy food source and breeding site for invertebrates, including dung beetles. Further down the food chain, these invertebrates are a food source for local birds. By eating these, the birds get a meal and help spread and dry out the dung. Romshed farm also saw drastic (positive) changes happening when they stopped using chemicals and synthetic fertilizer on the land, as well as not feeding cereals to ruminant livestock. Rainton Farm similarly stopped using chemicals on their land and ploughing, which prompted an invasion of dandelions on the grasslands. While initially taking over fields, eventually, these dandelions found their natural balance point, and stopped taking over. Their presence helps the soil by opening it up thanks to their thick tap roots, and allowing air and water to get in and feed the soil biome. This builds soil biodiversity and locks in carbon. The flowers also are an early source of nectar for pollinating insects and the seeds are food for small birds.
Conservation grazing
Morecambe Bay Conservation Company, Lancashire
The Morecambe Bay Conservation Company uses conservation grazing. This method uses low intensity grazing by livestock to help restore damaged habitats to places rich in natural diversity. The animals’ grazing and browsing modify the structure and species composition of the vegetation, while their trampling breaks up dense stands of resistant plant material, and creates patches of bare ground where plant seeds can germinate and insects can lay eggs or absorb heat from the sun. The dung of the livestock provides food for huge numbers of different invertebrates, becoming an essential source of nutrients for future plant growth. Having cattle grazing in the landscape also helps establish a new and more stable dynamic between competing processes, halting the loss of open habitat. Cattle have the physical strength and bulk to break up denser areas of scrub to create the smaller gaps and glades that many species need in order to thrive.
Monitoring
Rose Dale’s Organic Farm, Buckinghamshire
Monitoring is an important way to methodologically observe, identify, measure and survey biodiversity on the farm. It is a way to see what methods work to increase biodiversity and to measure their success. It can, however, be time-consuming and require some background knowledge. So, should the onus of monitoring fall on farmers, who are already very busy running and organising the farm? Not necessarily. While farmers are at the forefront and have lots of knowledge, experience, and interest, it is beneficial to collaborate with specialists, who have professional qualifications, time, and funding. Some examples of such fruitful collaborations are seen in Rose Dale’s Organic Farm and Hogshaw Hill Farm.
Observations
Photo by Clem Sandison
The easiest way to observe biodiversity on the farm is to look. Pictures, sketches, notes, and the like are a good way to perform a first, easy and cheap way of ecological monitoring when strapped for time or (financial) means to hire specialists. Counting earthworms is also a good way to assess soil health and can be done relatively quickly. Citizen science apps for phones and tablets provide opportunities to record information more easily. Examples are Soilmentor which assesses soil and ground level diversity and health, PoMS’ FIT count app which allows users to carry out a FIT Count and upload the results in one go, Merlin or Warblr to identify birdsong, and Birda to record bird species. While some apps are free, others require a one-off payment or run subscription models.
Surveys
Northern Lapwing, Romshed Farm Kent
Surveys can be done for everything, from the smallest insects to the largest trees. A survey assesses the diversity or presence of a species in an area, creating a baseline understanding of how the species is faring within the area and what possible issues there might be. This allows specialists and farmers to make informed decisions on conservation and management. Surveys can be done by volunteers, local groups, specialists, or organisations. Examples of organisations are the BTO, National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts. Companies also can provide a full ecological baseline, such as Pilio.
Research
Collaborating with universities and companies conducting research can be a good way to get monitoring done on the farm, while also collecting more in-depth information and possibly accessing some innovative techniques. When engaging with such specialists, it is important to be kept in the loop on their research not only when they are collecting their data, but especially once results come in! Pasture for Life has a research team which collaborates with many research projects and can be a good source of information.
Making biodiversity profitable
Striving for biodiversity and farming with nature rather than against it is commendable. However, farms are for-profit businesses and need to focus on making money as well. Luckily, making a farm biodiverse can help bring in revenue in several (in)direct ways.
Lower overhead costs
Hogshaw Hill Farm, Buckinghamshire
Farms focusing on biodiversity experience lower overhead costs. The Alexander family’s farm strategy came from a need to improve farmland with little budget, something a biodiverse approach could offer them. They report their farms being financially sustainable with minimal inputs, while also having a positive impact on the environment and nature. Thanks to having a pasture-based diet for cattle, they no longer need to use routine anthelmintics, boluses, or vaccinations, and the use of antibiotics is extremely low and veterinary-led. Hogshaw Hill Farm sees lower costs since using no fertilisers, having lower veterinary bills thanks to healthier animals that live longer, minimal housing and bedding costs, avoiding or reducing the cost of barn cleaning and dung spreading, and no hard feed costs. Cat Frampton, an artist and farmer in Dartmoor, does not need to use fertilisers, wormers and weed killers since farming with nature, cutting down on costs. Oxleaze Farm reports similar cost savings since stopping the use of pesticides and manufactured fertilisers. Essebeare Farm’s costs are lower since not buying straw to bed the cattle. Instead, they bed down on a wood chip and rush hay mix. Cannerheugh Farm keeps costs done by using mob grazing and bale grazing systems. These allow the cows to be kept out for longer periods of time, which also benefits herd health. Hill Top Farm notices they need to work fewer hours on the farm since the animals are less reliant on them thanks to a biodiverse farming approach.
Retail and tourism
Ethical Dairy, Castle Douglas
Consumers are increasingly interested in buying more organic food. A recent study shows this is partially driven by a pro-environmental attitude in young UK consumers. An article published in Forbes last year shows the organic food market is growing at a fast rate. In a post-coronavirus world, it seems many consumers’ food patterns are driven by health, environmental sustainability, and the declining population of producers. Farming with a focus on biodiversity, being Pasture For Life certified, or raising animals organically are just a few ways to tap into this new and quickly growing market.
Whittington Lodge Farm has developed their brand “Cotswold Beef” as a good way to enable upselling (i.e., the practice of encouraging customers to purchase a comparable higher-end product). Beef sales at Waterhay Farm experienced positive results from farming for biodiversity while also having PfL accreditation. Their customers want beef from a farm that has biodiversity as a key farming objective. Apart from beef sales, the farm has a small, off-grid glamping enterprise, as well as “getting back to nature” and real wildlife encounters. Both approaches have increased income tremendously. Rainton Farm sells traditional unpasteurised cheese marketed as “The Ethical Dairy” and ice cream under the brand “Cream o’ Galloway”. They have a visitor centre selling their products, provide food tourism experiences (e.g., ice cream-making workshops), and have an extensive network of nature trails for visitors. A big source of income for Old Hall Farm is their farm shop, which sells their dairy products. Park House Farm finds that farming in a nature-friendly manner provides them with a fantastic backstory which is key to building a brand for the farm and selling their products. The sales of these products enable them to generate the funds needed for their farming enterprise. The organic and PfL-accredited beef sold by the South Ormsby Estate is a huge success. Their beef boxes are reared, butchered and packaged within ten miles of the farm to minimise transport, in line with farm-to-fork principles. One of their biggest hits is the 2.8kg offal box which includes liver, heart, kidneys, oxtail, and onglet. They also provide walking trails to explore the lands of the farm. Goods Small Farms has a stall at Stroud Market which mainly sells vegetables. However, they use this as an opportunity to advertise their meat boxes, as well as the fruits and nuts their farm produces. Limden Brook Organic sells whole carcasses to butchers in the South East, and sell one animal a month through boxes or individual cuts from their farm office.
Resilience
Balbirnie Home Farms, Fife
Balbirnie Home Farms finds increasing biodiversity on the farm leads to more resilience. They experience more water holding capacity in the soil, and have a wide range of wild plants and animals on their farm which help improve the farm. Hill Top Farm finds their farm more profitable and resilient since farming with natural processes. The farm is better adapted at coping with tough trading conditions and changing weather patterns. Thanks to the presence of permanent pasture, they always have feed for their animals. Oxleaze Farm is more resilient since they stopped using pesticides or manufactured fertilisers, which additionally ensures cleaner water flows through and off the farm. Their cattle are held in an extensive grazing system and mob graze, which reduces the risk of soil compaction as does the greater vegetative cover present which in turn enhances climatic resilience during the increasingly frequent drought and wet winters. Rose Dale’s Organic Farm uses mob grazing for their cattle, which brings more biodiversity and soil fertility, leading to greater drought resilience. The low input system on the farm helps keep costs down and builds economic resilience which is important in a time of fluctuating energy and input prices.
Grass snake, Rose Dale’s Organic Farm, Buckinghamshire
Support
Making the switch to farming for biodiversity can be made easier with financial support and/or access to information on how to make this transition. Many of our biodiversity farms have benefitted from governmental grants and schemes, as well as funding from local councils. Romshed Farm, for example, has a long history with such schemes and managed to successfully make their farm more biodiverse by taking advantage of these. In this blog, we will not go into the different funding possibilities since these are currently subject to change. However, Pasture for Life membership provides valuable support for farmers transitioning to biodiverse, pasture-based systems through the power of farmer-to-farmer learning. Membership benefits include an active online forum, informative study tours, on-farm and online events, and dedicated networking opportunities, to name a few. These encourage farmers to harness the benefits of pasture for the natural world, their communities and their businesses.
Grampian Graziers, Aberdeenshire
