Our regenerative story
We are National Trust tenants working towards a regenerative agricultural system here at Saddlescombe Farm. This encourages our animals to graze the precious species rich chalk grassland on the South Downs in a particular way. This grazing creates more efficient grass availability throughout the year so we are better prepared to cope with weather extremes, it allows the grass to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere more effectively and the roots to release the carbon into the soil where it stays. We are also working to restore fields back to species rich grassland which had previously been cropped.
It is incredibly exciting to be beginning this change. Practically this involves dividing up the fields into smaller areas and the animals only being in one area a few days before moving into the next one. Where they have previously grazed then gets rested to allow the grass and wild flowers to fully recover, photosynthesise, capture carbon and flower.
Saddlescombe Farm
Saddlescombe is full of history. There is archaeological evidence of the farm being farmed since the Bronze Age with burial mounds and trackways being found nearby. Today there are a number of farm buildings ranging in date from the early 17th century, find out more on the National Trust website.
Wildlife & Wildflowers
Saddlescombe is home to lots of wonderful wildlife and working with their habitat in mind is a big driver for us when we are considering our grazing management. We have been busy planting and laying hedges in a traditional way which work like wildlife corridors and perfect for nesting birds like chaffinches, yellowhammers, wrens, robins and blackbirds. Hares enjoy the different sward heights of long tussocky grasses. Our permanent pasture species rich chalk downland banks are a precious habitat for orchids, cowslips, pride of Sussex to name a few.
Our Team
We work closely with our vets Nanja and Nick to achieve the high welfare we have for our herd of pedigree native Sussex cows and calves. We are very fortunate to have amazing friends to help us when we need it with moving the animals around the farm and helping with the conservation work. We couldn’t do anything without our fantastic, loyal sheepdogs, Fly and Ted, they work very hard but get a very good supper!