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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Future Agricultural Policy in Wales
On 9th July 2019 Welsh Government published their Sustainable Farming and our Land consultation which puts forward plans for how farmers will be supported in the future. This consultation follows their initial proposals contained within last year’s B...
Posted 19/09/2019 by Steph Morren -
Making public goods pay – new research shows that at least £3 billion is needed to support nature-friendly farming in the UK
Today, three major conservation organisations – the National Trust, the RSPB, and The Wildlife Trusts – publish landmark independent research on future agriculture policy.(read more)
Posted 19/09/2019 by Georgina B -
RSPB welcomes Beccy Speight as new CEO
In August, the RSPB said goodbye to Mike Clarke after nine years as our Chief Executive, and we welcomed Beccy Speight to the role. In this blog, she introduces herself and shares some of her thoughts and aspirations. Hello, I'm very honoured to intr...
Posted 17/09/2019 by Steph Morren -
Another record Open Farm Sunday at Hope Farm
RSPB's Hope Farm has run a successful LEAF Open Farm Sunday event for the last 5 years. Read on to hear from Hope Farm manager Georgie Bray on how 2019’s event went. “This could have been our first year of wash out rain but someone was looking down o...
Posted 21/06/2019 by Steph Morren -
Future Farming Policies in Wales: Farmers are part of the solution, not the problem.
With its green pastures, rolling hills and rugged highlands, Wales may seem like a lush country brimming with wildlife. However, look closer, and you’ll see that this is not quite the case. Sadly, Wales is one of the most nature depleted countries in...
Posted 19/06/2019 by Steph Morren -
Nature Friendly Farmers in Northern Ireland spread the word!
David Sandford is Chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network in Northern Ireland. Below he talks about what they have been up to recently to spread the messages about wildlife friendly farming. “Formed at the beginning of 2018, the Nature Friendly ...
Posted 17/06/2019 by Steph Morren
How you can help
At Hope Farm, we're developing farming techniques that will benefit wildlife.
