Shire Farm Celebrates Tree-mendous Success
News release
28th September 2011
One of theUK’s largest biodynamic farms in Hagworthingham, Lincolnshire has been awarded a grant which will go towards the planting of approximately 15,000 trees.
Shire Farm in the Lincolnshire Wolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), applied to the Forestry Commission for a Woodland Creation Grant to contribute to the cost of expanding and enhancing the existing woodland on the 500-acre site.
The grant will be used to create three separate woodland areas which will consist of a 8.77 ha wet woodland, which will run along the farm’s boundary with SnipeDalesCountryPark, a 1.39 ha wet woodland in an existing wet area on the farm and a 1 ha lowland mixed broadleaf woodland.
The planting, which will start in the autumn, will be carried out by Kilgour Landscapes from Leicesterwho have just won a silver medal for their show garden at the Hampton Court Flower Show.
Shire Farm started from very humble beginnings in 1995 when Mike Booth, Chairman of AURA-SOMA® Products Limited and successor of founder Vicky Wall, acquired 50 acres of land. In November 2005 and January 2006 Mike acquired another 439 acres of adjoining land just outside the village of Hagworthingham.
Mike said: “For the last 25 years Aura-Soma has been actively involved in the planting of trees and the establishment of sustainable woodland. Trees have a valuable role to play in addressing the issue of climate change as they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and lock it away for decades or even centuries.
“Planting new native woods increases the size of the carbon sink helping to mitigate the effects of some of our greenhouse gas emissions.
“Aura-Soma also runs a tree sponsorship scheme so that people from all over the world can contribute to our tree-planting programme.”
Shire Farm Manager Kate Urry added: “So far we’ve planted 3500 trees already including beech, willow, walnut, oak, chestnut, ash, birch, poplar, hornbeam, whitebeam, lime and other species.
“We applied for the Woodland Creation Grant in 2010 and I’m so pleased our application has been successful as it means we’ll be able to plant even more woodlands which will be a valuable addition to the farm. We are also planning to underplant the woodland with a carpet of native bulbs and wild flowers.”
As well as enhancing the environment and providing a habitat for wildlife, woodlands play an important role in water management and tackling climate change and promote biodiversity.
Peter Graves, Warden at the neighbouring Snipedales Country Parkand Nature Reserve, said: “We are very pleased that our neighbours have taken up the woodland creation grant scheme. It will enhance the work we have done and continue to do in the Snipedales reserve and undoubtedly have a beneficial affect on all woodland birds especially the target species of summer migrants.”
Notes for editors
- Shire Farm is one of the largest biodynamic farms in the UKand has been assessed by the UK Bioynamic Association and certified by Demeter International.
- Biodynamic farming excludes the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides, relying instead on the natural interdependence between all the diverse elements of the farm which are seen as part of a greater whole.
- Biodynamic farming also recognises the interplay between earthly and cosmic forces such as the rhythms and cycles of the seasons and the impact of the sun, moon and planets upon the land. These form the basis of an annually produced planting calendar which guides the farmer towards appropriate times for cultivation and sowing for maximum quantity and quality.
- The Woodland Creation Grant, operated by the Forestry Commission, supports the establishment of new woodlands to deliver national and regional priorities such as biodiversity, public access and restoration of industrial land.
Kate Strawson
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
kate@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
@shootingstarpr
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