Farming at Pensthorpe

Wildlife friendly farming is core to the ethos adopted at Pensthorpe. New farm welfare standards have been introduced in recent years, many of them focused on farm animal husbandry, and failed to address the real concerns of the public as regards the well-being of wildlife and the wider environment.

The farmland at Pensthorpe has been developed in accordance with Conservation Grade – whose standards have been revised in line with public concerns for wildlife. This includes a commitment to utilising at least 10% of the total farmed area to managed wildlife habitats, and complying with Conservation Grade production standards.

Pensthorpe takes it role in farming very seriously; as a Conservation Grade cereals supplier it also aims to halt the general decline in biodiversity in the British countryside. Livestock farming is one element of this, utilising traditional breeds of cattle and sheep, such as Longhorns Cattle and Norfolk Horn Sheep which help to manage meadow areas. These meadows benefit from the maintenance of a poor soil quality, with regular mowing and grazing helping to ensure that the areas are rich in both flowering plants and invertebrates.

Conservation Grade standards ensure that any agricultural fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides that are applied are used safely and wisely; their effect on wildlife is closely monitored to ensure that there is no negative impact on biodiversity. Over 90% of the decline in farmland wildlife is known to be due to loss of habitat; Conservation Grade protocol upholds the provision of agro-ecological habitats that support the wildlife food chain.

To see wildlife friendly farming in action, farm tours are run at regular intervals each day throughout the Summer months, to give visitors a through introduction to Conservation Grade farming techniques.