Wildlife Report - September 2006

Langmead Farms continue to improve the bio-diversity on all our farms especially on the 900 acres of organically farmed land.  All the farms will now have a 6-metre field margin, which will act as a wildlife corridor, which means that we will have at least 12 kms of additional managed habitat.  Each year 400 metres of new hedgerow is planted and improved management of the hedges and copses is on going.

Recently constructed beetle banks will give more diversity and where they are planted across the fields, they are designed to prevent erosion, particularly at Petworth.  Therefore, the outlook is very positive for the development of all wildlife and the wild plants on our farms.

Birds

The particularly fine weather during the period has helped complete a good nesting season for most of the birds on our farms, although the Grey Partridges were heavily predated in their first brood because of lack of cover.  The second brood have been particularly successful especially at Church Farm, Hunston where we have several conveys, in spite of the fact that the farm has been intensely cropped with lettuce, potatoes and wheat.  We attribute this to the sympathetic management of the hedges, ditches and 6-metre boundaries that will now give cover and feeding opportunities for the partridges.  We have had further success with Kestrels, Barn Owls and Little Owls nesting in boxes and of course Common Buzzards are now a regular sight on the farms particularly at Home Farm, Selsey.  The rarest raptor seen has been a Juvenile Montagu’s Harrier over the west fields at Selsey. 

Butterflies

The exceptionally fine weather has given everybody an opportunity to see an abundance of the Common Butterflies and indeed quite a number of Clouded Yellows.  We are hoping that these butterflies have had a good breeding season and will be showing well again in 2007.

Hunston Copse and Ditches

Further work continues at Hunston Copse in conjunction with the West Sussex County Council.  It was interesting to know that water voles were taking advantage in this dry season of the water leaking from the irrigation pipes, when the system was shut down.  With the continued work in Hunston Copse, we are looking forward to an abundance of woodland flowers next spring.

Organic Fertilizer

We are now applying substantial tonnages of home-produced organic fertilizer, which is having a major beneficial effort on the quality and weight of the lettuce on both the organic farms and non-organic crops.  It may also have additional benefits to the biodiversity on our farms.

Trees

In spite of the dry season it is very interesting to note that the trees we have planted and the new hedges have all done remarkably well and put on substantial growth, they appear to be fruiting heavily which will help the birds on their autumn migration.

Access

Langmead Farms maintains at least 3.8 kms of footpaths on our farms, some of which are also bridleways, and we encourage all country-lovers to use these footpaths whenever possible.  As we are growing crops, we request that all dogs be kept on a lead.  Your co-operation is appreciated.