Wildlife Farms & Estates

As Christmas draws closer we would like to thank everyone we’ve been involved with in 2024. We have had a very successful year and a record number of enquiries from people keen to sign up for accreditation. Not only have we seen more landowners, farmers and managers than ever before commit to our Level One accreditation, to uphold good practice in managing wildlife and biodiversity, we have welcomed more applicants keen to progress to Level Two. To date, we are delighted to have over 75,000 hectares of sign-ups and are well on our way to hitting our initial 100,000 hectares target, which will put us on the radar of DEFRA. In September, we held our second annual Symposium in Leicestershire and heard a number of fascinating and informative talks from our speakers. Afterwards, we were treated to a tour of The GWCT Allerton Project demonstration farm hosted by GWCT. Thank you to our sponsor Evelyn Partners for helping to make the day such a success. Plans are already underway for next year’s Symposium and we hope you can join us. Please keep an eye on our website for more information as tickets sold out very quickly this year. ·  If you’re interested in finding out more about Wildlife Farms & Estates England and Wales do get in touch or visit our website for more information on the accreditation process. https://lnkd.in/dMWxxQta ·  We welcome enquiries from all farms and estates who recognise the importance of enhancing wildlife and biodiversity through a range of sustainable land management practices. For more information, please email info@wildlifeestates.org.uk Ed Barnston NSch, MIAgrM, FRASE Alex Carson-Taylor FRGS Johnny Wake Wildlife Farms & Estates #wildlife #biodiversity #farming #environmental #landmanagement

Thank you to everyone who attended our Wildlife Farms & Estates England and Wales Symposium yesterday at The GWCT Allerton Project in lovely Loddington, Leicestershire. It was a packed agenda full of thought-provoking and inspirational talks from our Chair the Earl of Leicester, Ed Barnston NSch, MIAgrM, FRASE, Ross Ewing, Joe Evans, Jonathan Armitage, Dr Alastair Leake and Roger Draycott. A big thanks also to our sponsor Evelyn Partners for helping to make the day such a success. Keep an eye out for our newsletter which will look back on some of the highlights of the Symposium and future plans. Joe Stanley, ARAgS Peter Besant Suzy Hawkey Alex Carson-Taylor FRGS Johnny Wake The CLA Strutt & Parker Rhodri Thomas Lucy Mason Nick Mason

We’re looking forward to the second Symposium of Wildlife Farms & Estates, England and Wales, which is taking place this week. We’ve got lots of great speakers lined up and the day includes a tour of The GWCT Allerton Project. We’ll have information about how to join and the numerous benefits to being part of a network of landowners and land managers who are committed to giving every opportunity for wildlife and biodiversity to flourish and grow. Thank you to Evelyn Partners who are sponsoring the Symposium. WFE is chaired by Tom Leicester, the Earl of Leicester whose Holkham Estate was the first Accredited Estate in England. Tom says: “We’re looking forward to our second Symposium and welcoming landholders from across England and Wales. “The day will be a celebration of all that is good about WFE, and we’ll hear from some of the people and organisations making a difference to the way we farm from smaller landholdings to big estates. “Holkham Estate was the first English estate to achieve Wildlife Estates accreditation in 2012. It is a means of encouraging landowners to understand their land and biodiversity more, to allow them to make more informed management decisions, leading to improvement of the natural capital in our care.” * If you would like to find out more about WFE and the accreditation process please do get in touch at info@wildlifeestates.org.uk Ed Barnston NSch, MIAgrM, FRASE Alex Carson-Taylor FRGS Johnny Wake #CLA #biodiversity #nature #environment #farming #estatemanagement #countrysidestewardship #greenfinance #symposium

Wildlife Farms & Estates accreditation is the label of excellence in championing the enhancement of wildlife and biodiversity. It is a two-stage process and the first step is to commit to ten fundamental principles in the responsible management of wildlife (the Wildlife Estates Charter) and to compliance with EU/UK legislation. We welcome inquiries about accreditation from all farms and estates who recognise the importance of enhancing wildlife and biodiversity through a range of sustainable land management practices. If you would like to know more about WFE accreditation then please do get in touch at info@wildlifeestates.org.uk You can find out more about our ten principles here https://lnkd.in/e_BNeQKw Alex Carson-Taylor FRGS Ed Barnston NSch, MIAgrM, FRASE The CLA Johnny Wake #biodiversity #nature #farming #DEFRA #BNG #estatemanagent #CLA #ruralestate #countrysidestewardship #land #agrienvironment #sustainableagriculture #greenfinance 

What are the benefits of Wildlife Farms & Estates accreditation? Quite simply, the process empowers landowners, managers and specialists passionate about sustainable and holistic rural land management to navigate and better understand a range of evolving complex issues, including: * Nature restoration, natural capital and potential engagement with green finance. * New support policies providing payments for delivery of a range of public goods. * The role of access networks and green space in physical and mental health. * Demonstrating sustainability of rural land management to the public, supply chain and regulators through adaptive and resilient systems. * Delivering national and international objectives including 30% of land protected for biodiversity by 2030. Ed Barnston NSch, MIAgrM, FRASE, Manager of the Barnston Estate in Cheshire, will be one of our speakers at this year’s Symposium of Wildlife Farms Estates, England and Wales. He will explain the two-stage process and the advantages he is already seeing from completing Level 1 and Level 2. Ed says: “Securing Level 2 accreditation was a challenge but entirely worthwhile for what it delivers. “This ranges from identifying some areas of weakness requiring more focus and confirmed other aspects were on track, balancing food production alongside enhancing biodiversity, unlocking BNG, raising the standards of land management expected by society and building a positive legacy.” Wildlife Farms & Estates England & Wales - Symposium 2024 Tickets, Wed 25 Sep 2024 at 09:15 | Eventbrite Date: September 25th 9am-4pm Address: The Allerton Project, Visitor Centre, Main Street, Loddington, Leicestershire LE7 9XE Cost: £24 Click here to secure your place: https://lnkd.in/eRMzbCVY Thank you to Evelyn Partners who are sponsoring the Symposium. #biodiversity #nature #agriculture #environment #rural #farming #farmers #farm #DEFRA #climatechange #climate #BNG #estatemanagent #CLA #ruralestate #countrysidestewardship #land #naturalenvironment #agrienvironment #soil #nature #sustainable #sustainability #sustainableagriculture #symposium #greenfinance Alex Carson-Taylor FRGS Johnny Wake The GWCT Allerton Project

Just a few weeks to go until our second Symposium and we’ve got some great speakers lined up, including: Dr Alastair Leake, the Director of Policy at the The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. Alastair was awarded the Royal Agricultural Society of England’s National Agricultural Award last year for his outstanding contribution to British agriculture through his work leading the The GWCT Allerton Project. He has also just been made a board member of Natural England. Roger Draycott, Director of Advisory, Education and Gamebird Policy at the GWCT, will discuss biodiversity auditing. Former Bledisloe Gold Medal for Landowners winner Ed Barnston NSch, MIAgrM, FRASE of the Barnston Estate in Cheshire will talk about his journey from Level 1 to Level 2 accreditation and the benefits of being accredited. Caroline Pringle of Wildlife Estates Scotland will update on recent progress including trusted Operator Status for Grouse Moor Licensing. There will also be a talk from the The CLA, and Strutt & Parker will discuss the WFE application process. Date: September 25th 9am-4pm Address: The Allerton Project, Visitor Centre, Main Street, Loddington, Leicestershire LE7 9XE Cost: £24 Click here to secure your place: https://lnkd.in/emBii9Um Thank you to Evelyn Partners who are sponsoring the Symposium. Wildlife Farms & Estates Johnny Wake Alex Carson-Taylor FRGS #biodiversity #agriculture #farming #symposium #estatemangement #ruralestate #sustainableagriculture #land #countrysidestewardship

Don‘t forget to book your place at our second Symposium of Wildlife Farms & Estates, England and Wales. Taking place on Wednesday, September 25th at The GWCT Allerton Project in Loddington, Leicestershire, this year’s event follows on from our inaugural Symposium held at the Holkham Estate in 2023. We’ve got a packed programme with lots of interesting speakers and, after lunch, there’ll be a tour of The Allerton Project hosted by GWCT. Date: September 25th 9am-4pm Address: The Allerton Project, Visitor Centre, Main Street, Loddington, Leicestershire LE7 9XE Cost: £24 Click here to secure your place: https://lnkd.in/eRMzbCVY Thank you to Evelyn Partners who are sponsoring the Symposium. Ed Barnston NSch, MIAgrM, FRASE Alex Carson-Taylor FRGS Johnny Wake The CLA Strutt & Parker Dr Alastair Leake Jonathan Armitage Roger Draycott Caroline Pringle #biodiversity #agriculture #farming #symposium #estatemanagement #ruralestate #sustainableagriculture #land #countrysidestewardship

We’re delighted to announce that bookings are now open for the second Symposium of Wildlife Farms Estates, England and Wales.   This year’s event will take place at The GWCT Allerton Project demonstration farm in Leicestershire and will be hosted by The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust and sponsored by Evelyn Partners. We have a number of interesting speakers lined up during the day, which includes a site visit of The Allerton Project hosted by GWCT. We’ll also have information about the benefits of Wildlife Farms & Estates membership and there’ll be a chance to hear from members who have achieved Level 1 and Level 2 accreditation and how it has made a difference to them. Date: September 25th 9am-4pm Address: The Allerton Project, Visitor Centre, Main Street, Loddington, Leicestershire LE7 9XE Cost: £24 Click here to book: https://lnkd.in/emBii9Um Ed Barnston NSch, MIAgrM, FRASE Alex Carson-Taylor FRGS Strutt & Parker Dr Alastair Leake Jonathan Armitage Roger Draycott Caroline Pringle #biodiversity #agriculture #farming #estatemanagent #CLA #ruralestate #countrysidestewardship #land #sustainableagriculture #symposium The CLA

The Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) 2024 saw a number of announcements regarding #countrysidestewardship (CS) and the Sustainable Farming Incentive #sfi. Payment rates are being increased as of 1st January 2024 and new options are being added to the schemes such as #agroforestry. Although CS is not yet open for applications, SFI is open all year round. By designing a scheme to suit your #land and #farming operations, income from #agrienvironment schemes is a useful top-up to #farm income and can play a major part in #naturalhabitat restoration and preservation. With increasing concerns around the impacts of #climatechange and #biodiversityloss, it has never been a more appropriate time to farm our land whilst enhancing the #naturalenvironment around it. Here are a few tips to guide you in embracing a nature-friendly approach to designing an agri-environment scheme for your land: 🐝 Create an environment on your farm in which #pollinators can thrive - for instance, you can cut grass less often and establish vigorous herb-rich and legume swards 🦉 Manage the land in a way to support priority habitat and #nativespecies - this can be done through offering over-winter feeding and establishing flower-rich habitats 🦔 Create #wildlife corridors around the farm - establish buffer strips around fields, manage #hedgerows allowing for species and structural diversity around the farm 🌊 Protect water features from run-off and #livestock poaching - buffer strips can also prevent #soil runoffs and support a better #soilstructure 🌱 Protect your soils - include winter cover in your rotation and minimise bare soils You can read our full blog post for much more tips and advice! https://lnkd.in/gu-_65wD And please get in touch with us if you would like to know more about who we are, what we do, and our accreditation process 🧐

I’m delighted to announce that the Barnston Estate has become the first estate in Cheshire to receive the prestigious Wildlife Farms & Estates (WFE) Level Two accreditation. The award is made to farms and estates that provide evidence of holistic and sustainable environmental, economic and social land management practices and who recognise the multifunctional role of rural business and land use. WFE accreditation is the label of excellence in championing the enhancement of wildlife and biodiversity through independent assessment. A few years ago, whilst I was undertaking a Nuffield Farming Scholarship, I travelled extensively across the UK and Europe as part of my research into benchmarking successful rural estates. One highlight was being introduced to Wildlife Farms & Estates, a scheme to encourage and enable the development of sustainable and holistic management practices that address the opportunities and challenges of land management. I’d like to give particular thanks for all their inspiration and encouragement to Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust, Guenther Graf von der Schulenburg, Anne Sophie Gamborg, Egbert Jaap Mooiweer, Michel Verhaege De Naeyer, Sue Steer, Richard Roe and also the Land App for their intuitive and collaborative online mapping solutions. The application process is straightforward and more information can be found at: https://lnkd.in/eBP-rFg9 https://lnkd.in/e7baxj7e #Wildlife #BNG #Nature #estatemanagement #CLA #friendsofthecountryside #Cheshire #ruralestate