RSPB determined to reduce dependence on pesticides at its showcase farm in Cambridgeshire

 

Georgie Bray - farming for wildlife as well as for food

THE RSPB says it is continuing to seek ways to minimise the chemicals it uses on its farm in Knapwell, Cambridgeshire.

The manager of 180-hectare Hope Farm is Georgie Bray who insists in her end-of-year review: "We are  looking for alternatives to pesticide use. 

"This is based around risk management for the business, minimising our negative environmental impact from pesticide use and reducing our climate impact."

Hope Farm was bought by the RSPB in 2000 for approximately £1.5-million.

The conservation charity no longer uses insect-killing treatment (except as 'a last resort'), but it has not yet dispensed with 'weed'-killing herbicides.

Continues Ms Bray: "To reduce our reliance on pesticides, we have looked at increasing habitat networks in the fields, continuing to focus on soil health and crop variety choice. 

"New in-field flower margins were planted in autumn and are still under a mowing regime for thistle control before they can mature into a valuable flowering resource. 

"To reduce inorganic nutrient input, we have, for the second year, been running Soil Nitrogen Supply tests alongside our manure nutrient content testing. 

"For the first time, we have also started to delve into tissue testing so as to be more precise about the risk of applying more nutrients than a crop needs which may then become damaging to the environment."

What about fungus-killing treatments?

"We continue to look at reducing fungicide use, partly by growing crops, such as YQ wheat, that do not require their use."

Ms Bray concludes: "Although Hope Farm is not organic, we hope that our approach  demonstrates that high crop yields can be achieved employing a  system that can accommodate organic principles and diligent habitat management.

"Ambitions are high. As ever, we are determined to do the best we can in terms of nature-friendly farming and are looking to adopt improved regenerative practices all the while. 

"We are also keen as ever to share where things have gone well and not so well - warts and all."

 

                                    

Almost ready for harvest - wheat crop at Hope Farm (photo: RSPB)