Central Chilterns Farmer Cluster
Restoring hedgerows in the Central Chilterns
Through support from Chalk, Cherries and Chairs, in 2019 eighteen Buckinghamshire farmers formed a Farmer Cluster in the Central Chilterns.
They have gone from strength to strength with understanding and supporting the wildlife on their farms, and reducing their farms’ carbon footprints. Achievements include planting more than 50,000 new hedgerow trees, carrying out farm carbon assessments, setting up cattle-grazing systems to improve chalk grassland, and undertaking wildlife surveys on all their farms. The Cluster registered as an independent Community Interest Company and continues to work together with the support of the Chilterns National Landscape team.
What does our farmer cluster do?
By working with over 18 farmers covering 6,500 hectares in the Central Chilterns, we have:
- Planted over 3km of new field margins
- Designed and delivered new farm signage across the cluster
- Completed wildlife surveys covering birds, insects and reptiles to assess the state of nature and how to best to support its revival
- Whole farm plans commissioned across all 18 farms
The farms in our Central Chilterns cluster cover 6,500 hectares in the Central Chilterns
“Farmers are being asked to do more to look after our wildlife, soils and water as well as reduce our carbon footprint. For many of us this is daunting; my farming neighbours know how to produce food but struggle to know where to start on these new challenges. The cluster has really helped us better understand the wildlife on our farms and how we can help it to thrive; we have a support team we trust and the resources on offer are invaluable, getting expert advice, help designing projects, accessing funding and ongoing monitoring. The power of the cluster really comes through opportunities to work together on projects at scale. We each form a small part of the wider Chilterns jigsaw and by working together are making a big impact. I hope that in the future every farmer in the Chilterns has access to a similar support package. What a difference that would make.”
– Ian Waller, Chair of the Central Chilterns Farm Cluster and LEAF Demonstration Farmer
The results so far from the Central Chilterns Cluster
Farmers and volunteers working together
In total, 27 volunteers worked with our farmers to deliver:
- 26 winter farm bird surveys as part of the GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count
- 24 spring breeding season bird surveys
- 18 ringing sessions across 4 farms
- 42 new nest boxes for Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Little Owl and Kestrel
Our farmers have been really keen to take time out to welcome the volunteers and join in with the the surveys, have a go at ringing and help put up the Owl boxes. They have said how much they have enjoyed learning from the volunteer’s skills and experience and our volunteers have really valued the chance to explore new areas and find some great birds.
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