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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Flower Power
Flowers are a fundamental part of a sustainable farming system. Without flowers, the ability of biodiversity to thrive and in turn help us grow food is very limited. We need connected flower-rich habitats to help reverse the ongoing decline in biodiv...
Posted 12/05/2020 by Georgina B -
Farming with Nature
A blog by Chris Bailey - RSPB Scotland's advisory manager RSPB Scotland has extended its relationship with Soil Association Scotland, Scottish Forestry and Scottish Water to deliver the Farming with Nature Programme for another year. Originally the p...
Posted 03/03/2020 by Steph Morren -
Curlew: A species on the brink
A blog by Katie Gibb, RSPB's Conservation Officer for Antrim Plateau The curlew is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable UK bird species; it is entrenched and entangled in our stories, its haunting call is the soundscape that captures the essence ...
Posted 27/02/2020 by Steph Morren -
The importance of soil health
A blog on soil health by Georgie Bray - RSPB's Hope Farm Manager Playing the waiting game! Sitting in the farmhouse office, looking at another day with grey skies and puddles on the patio, you can’t help but wonder how much more rain can fall from th...
Posted 16/02/2020 by Steph Morren -
Cutting (h)edge management at Hope Farm
In this blog, Paul Cabrisy, research intern at RSPB Hope Farm, explains the importance of hedges and correctly managing them on a farm. Paul also tells us the outcome of a study carried by a masters student who looked at different preferences of farm...
Posted 13/02/2020 by Steph Morren -
Oxford Real Farming Conference part 5 - Climate and Net Zero
Citizen’s Assembly: Emergency Plan for Agriculture and Wildlife Climate and Net Zero - by Mair Floyd-Bosley and Melanie Coath (RSPB - climate change policy) Agriculture in the UK produces 45.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, 10% of UK total GHG emi...
Posted 10/02/2020 by Steph Morren
How you can help
At Hope Farm, we're developing farming techniques that will benefit wildlife.
