About the farm
In 2000, we purchased Hope Farm, an arable farm in Cambridgeshire. It is contract farmed by one of our neighbouring farmers.
About Hope Farm
In previous years, we predominantly grew autumn-sown crops because they were considered to be more profitable. Recently, we have introduced a greater area of spring-sown crops, to help deal with pernicious weed problems and maintain overall profitability.
During the first five years only two crops were grown - wheat and oilseed rape. These were grown in a three-year rotation (wheat - wheat - oilseed rape). The rotation has evolved to take account of market opportunities and help implement a robust integrated pest management programme, so for harvest 2016 we grew winter wheat, spring barley, winter beans, winter linseed and spring millet.
Along with the arable land, there is also permanent pasture, which is grazed by horses and sheep. The soil is predominantly heavy clay.
Key facts
- Total farm area: 181 hectares
- Area of cropping: 161 hectares - harvest 2010
- Area of pasture: 6 hectares
- Soil type: Hanslope calcareous clay loam and Evesham clay loam
- Smallest field: 0.93 hectares
- Largest field: 34 hectares
- Length of hedgerows: 10.3 kilometres
- Area of woodland: 0.5 hectares
Our farming blog
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The opportunity to market produce as 'Fair to Nature'
Mark Varney, Head of Fair to Nature on the importance of restoring nature as part of a productive farming system, and the benefits of joining Fair to Nature. As a nation, over recent years, we’ve seen policy-driven changes in agriculture cause ...(re...
Posted 25/05/2022 by Bridget Gaskill -
Farming and nature in Wales
Hannah Woodall, Land Use Policy Office for RSPB Cymru outlines the effective ways that farmers in Wales are using nature friendly farming techniques to improve farm resilience and provide environmental benefits. Farming in Wales is at its...(read m...
Posted 23/05/2022 by Bridget Gaskill -
The Good Food Nation Bill – can it fix Scotland’s food system?
Andrew Stark, Land Use Policy Officer RSPB Scotland, provides a summary of how the Good Food Nation Bill should be making Scotland’s food system better for nature by putting nature at the heart of agricultural practices. Food is vitally im...(read mo...
Posted 19/05/2022 by Bridget Gaskill -
RSPB’s attendance at Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture Show & Conference 2022
Bridget Gaskill, Agricultural Advice Project Manager outlines the key themes and highlights anticipated during our presence at Groundswell, 22nd and 23rd June 2022. Following our inaugural presence at Groundswell last year, RSPB and the Farm Wildlife...
Posted 18/05/2022 by Bridget Gaskill -
What butterflies, and how many visit your farm?
Zoë Randle from Butterfly Conservation highlights why butterflies are so important for farming and wildlife on farmland and recommends the RSPB Farmland Butterfly Survey method for monitoring them. This methodology is being used in the Volunteer...(r...
Posted 12/05/2022 by Bridget Gaskill -
An update on Birds of Conservation Concern
Richard Winspear, Agricultural Advice Manager, cites important issues raised in the recent BoCC review regarding threatened bird species. Birds of Conservation Concern 5 Last December saw the publication of the latest review of the status o...(read m...
Posted 11/02/2022 by Bridget Gaskill
How you can help
At Hope Farm, we're developing farming techniques that will benefit wildlife.
