MAKING FARMING MORE BIODIVERSE

Cornwell Manor and its 2,000 acre estate were acquired by the Ward family in the late 1950s. Given its beauty and location – it’s deep in the heart of the Cotswolds – it’s not surprising that Cornwell is such a popular luxury wedding venue. Who wouldn’t want to get married in a Norman church overlooking mellow pastureland dotted with sheep?

Stunning views aside, the Farm at Cornwell is key to the survival of the estate. Until recently the land has been cultivated conventionally, as directed by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), an EU ruling implemented in 1962 that encouraged intensive farming. Now, however, the reality of global warming means that farmers are faced with a conundrum: how to continue to produce enough food to meet demand as well as increase biodiversity (ie reduce the use of pesticides) to protect the planet. Sadly, there is no simple solution, but change is afoot, not least at Cornwell.

Planting trees for the planet

Over the past 60 years the Farm has been implementing a significant tree planting scheme. Supported by the Forestry Commission, more than 50 hectares of woodland has been established, with particular emphasis on planting trees as a backdrop to the village and the manor house; this planting includes an avenue of trees leading to the church (inadvertently upping the romance factor). A further eight hectares of planting will take place in 2025. 

Not only is planting trees an effective way of releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere, thus helping to combat global warming, but more trees mean more cover for British wildlife and the land at Cornwell is now a haven for previously missing birds and mammals such as red kites and waders (as detailed below), roe deer and otters.

Cleaning up the River Evenlode 

Recent flooding has been a hugely positive part of the Farm’s environmental scheme. In 2023, in conjunction with Wild Oxfordshire, three areas of wetland were created to reconnect the Chipping Norton brook with its floodplain in order to improve the water quality in the Evenlode catchment area. The wetland project has the added bonus of creating a veritable sanctuary for British birdlife: to date egret (both great and little), greenshank, lapwing, redshank, ringed plover, ruff, sandpiper, water rail, wheatear, and masses of ducklings have been spotted.

Capturing carbon by improving the soil 

The Farm at Cornwell has been working with the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for more than 30 years. The initial schemes included flooding poor arable fields to benefit wildlife and, although not part of the original objective, this will have also captured large amounts of carbon. A further carbon-capturing scheme, implemented in 2023, involved the planting of legumes and vetches in order to ‘fix’ nitrogen in the soil, thereby improving fertility. Healthier soil means that crops can be cultivated without the need for fertilisers and sprays (or, at least, in greatly reduced quantities). 

Beetle banks, flower-rich margins and nesting plots 

Cornwell’s work with DEFRA also included the creation of beetle banks, flower-rich margins and nesting plots. The wild birdseed and flower mixes that were sown last summer included poppies, cornflowers, daisies, linseed, red clover and white clover, of which all are gloriously in evidence a year on. The project has also attracted a wealth of British wildlife including hares, butterflies, bees, lapwing and other waders.

Going forward… The rewilding at Cornwell has been inspired by the work of friends at Knepp in West Sussex (https://knepp.co.uk/) and Wild Ken Hill (https://wildkenhill.co.uk/) in Norfolk. Both estates implemented their rewilding schemes many years ago and the results are hugely encouraging, lending credence to the belief that the recent work at Cornwell will have significant environmental benefits in the years to come.

For more information on Cornwell’s rewilding projects, see: 

• https://www.fwi.co.uk/sp/alternative-land-uses/alternative-land-uses

• https://www.gov.uk/government/news/three-new-wetlands-created-in-evenlode-valley