An extraordinary connection here was Chris working with David Corry, the agroforestry research officer at Leeds’ where Martin Wolfe learned his trade, which inspired him to establish Wakelyns. Emma was delight to re-meet. Her family from Orford, which is why they were here in Suffolk. Chris advice: Ideally you need a small tractor and topper… Continue reading Visit of Chris and Emma
Category: Land
Visit to the land by farmer Richard Symes
I knew Richard through Umi and her inspiring and well organised Science Cafes. Now however I find he heads up the Blyth Cluster, which I'd encountered through Maddy, SWT. A relative new movement to link farmers and their land together, started by a government initiative which paid for linking land, and which has been developed… Continue reading Visit to the land by farmer Richard Symes
Hedges on radio 4
August 2023. Defra called for a 40% increase I hedgerows to combat climate change. Climate change committee called for 45,000 miles of hedgerow by 2050. Sharp contrast to grubbing out of hedgerows post war. Why? Carbon sequestration. I kilometre of hedgerow 5,6 megatons of co2. 4.5% of these. Countryside stewardship data. 1,800 miles planted 2022.… Continue reading Hedges on radio 4
Farmer Clive to the Land
Clive and Tinks came to the land late July, and gave me hope. Clive was actually impressed with my burgeoning tree nursery, the whips surviving well in the ditch and in water, thanks also to the wonderful wet summer we are having. We walked through the field, alive with butterflies enjoying the thistle heads: Spear… Continue reading Farmer Clive to the Land
Land mid july – thistle ragwort borage
Captains wood with Peter
Another inspiring walk talk organised by Eamon and Peter and Woodbridge Climate Action, this one to learn how to interpret landscape. Turns out Peter knew Oliver Rackham, the master interpreter of landscape. But Peter was a good live interpreter, and I learned much. Captains Wood - the name tells us it's not an ancient name,… Continue reading Captains wood with Peter
Mares fart or ragwort or shining blossoms of rich sunshine?
This drought year it’s arrived. It is my crop especially at field margins. I’m re-reading the chapter of Isabella Tree's book Wilding. She writes well, and captures the public and private debate around ragwort - her first had experience is not unlike my own. She cites Professor Michael Crawley of Imperial College (3R's Ragowort, Rabbits… Continue reading Mares fart or ragwort or shining blossoms of rich sunshine?
Pound Farm – with Woodbridge Climate Action and Peter Hudson
This is one reason I so enjoy the walk talk of Peter Hudson. 'And this temperature is before El Nino and the change of the Jetstream.. Europe is experiencing bands of hot temperatures now. It was a hot day. In the meadow I am so jealous of, amid the many grasses, grow yellow and purple… Continue reading Pound Farm – with Woodbridge Climate Action and Peter Hudson
Hedgerows
(From Jamie) 'Consultation on Protecting Hedgerows' – DEFRA Hedgerows are important ecological building blocks across our landscapes. They provide habitat, act as wildlife corridors, slow soil erosion and water run-off, support crop pollinators and sequester carbon. As we replace the EU’s land-based subsidies with our new farming schemes, we also move away from cross compliance… Continue reading Hedgerows
Green Print forum news
Latest Green Print forum has a story of the Land and Kinda tribes.https://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/assets/Environment/Green-Issues/Newsletters/2023/Greenprint-Forum-newsletter-Summer-2023.pdf greenprint-forum-newsletter-summer-2023Download
