We have recently worked with Adonis Blue Environmental Consultants, part of the Kent Wildlife Trust, to put together a Whole Farm Ecological and Biodiversity Assessment Report and a Woodland Management Plan for the Farm. We have also started to involve experts from various wildlife groups to produce a comprehensive record of flora and fauna present on the farm and woodlands and monitor changes in the future. It is relevant to note that Woodsell will adjoin two areas managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust to provide an extensive corridor for the migration of many local species.
Great and Little Spelty is divided into ancient and an area of previously coppiced woodland. Not only is it ancient woodland, so important in its own right, but it is part of a local suite of dip-slope woodlands including Spuckles Wood, Hazel Wood and others, on chalk and clay soils. These often support a wide variety of plants and fungal communities.
Now that our Woodland Management Plan is in place, we plan to reintroduce some coppicing and to consider allowing some areas of woodland to spread. Around the woodland, the grassland areas will be managed to provide flower-rich grassy habitat or an intimate mix of trees, grassland and scrub, with wide rides through the woodland connecting these areas. We have started planting a larger area of orchard around the woodland margin, providing an open wooded habitat that would complement the woodland itself.
We also hope to acquire additional woodland to include in the project.
Preservation of an ancient wildflower meadow (Orchid Bank) with annual cutting and rerolling or green hay in other parts of the farm in order to establish native wildflowers in other areas of the farm.
Two of the larger lower fields have now been planted with a pollen and nectar flower mix and flower rich grass under the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
We are also grazing around 50 sheep between the Valley, Rotation and Orchard fields. This provides a route to revert species poor arable land to species rich neutral/ calcareous grassland and to enhance this to species richness.
The 4.3 Ha Centuary Field is currently just being left to naturally rewild. We have added a small wildlife pond and a bird watching treehouse to observe this peaceful corner of the farm from above. The webcam viewing the pond has picked up a wide variety of animals/birds, including badgers, hares, foxes and buzzards.
We are working with a local farmer on a commercial wildflower project by planting 5 Ha of 15 different species. Along with a grass mix the following species were planted:
Two years into the project we reaped a good harvest of oxeye daisies, red sorrell and wild carrot seeds in 2023 and hope our harvest will increase in future years.
We have planted over 6,500 tree and hedge plants since starting the project. This has included extensive hedge planting around the perimeter of the farm and to break up a large previously agricultural field. Planting of a hectare of woodland in the upper area of the Rotation 3 field and a small fruit and nut orchard in the Orchard Field. We also planted a nut tree avenue along the bridleway in the Rotation 2 Field during winter 2023/4.
With the aim to diversify the landscape and increase biodiversity we have added six wildlife ponds to the farm. It has been amazing to see how quickly these have become established with a wide variety of different species and provide an important water source for mammals and birds.
See our news article for more information.
Rather than relying on the old water pipes we have installed a borehole to provide the farm’s water needs. A large proportion of the electricity is provided by a 20 kW ground mounted solar array with battery storage system. There are charging points for electric vehicles. The hot water and heating for the accommodation is provided using super efficient air source heat pumps.
Just an hour’s drive from London and less than half an hour from Maidstone, Ashford and Canterbury, it is an easy journey to visit our nature retreats (coming in summer 2025). The farm will offer a quiet space to relax and enjoy the countryside. The site offers dark skies and little noise pollution and gives visitors a chance to relax and become immersed in nature.