The Yattendon Estate in Berkshire has become the latest farm to join the LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) UK network of demonstration farms set up to advance sustainable farming knowledge generation and exchange.
Yattendon is also the second farm in the Resilient & Ready programme, run by LEAF and Corteva Agriscience, to become a LEAF Demonstration Farm following three years of immersive training, trials and mentoring.
As a diverse farming enterprise covering 2,150ha and growing wheat, barley, beans, linseed, oats, and maize, “responsible English farming” is the ethos underpinning the entire business, with over 300ha dedicated to supporting biodiversity and protecting the characteristics of the local landscape.
The estate has been involved in environmental stewardship schemes since 1998 and since 2021 has embarked on a new five-year scheme including wildflower plots, pollen and nectar mixes, wild bird food mixes and bumblebee mixes.
Farm manager, Nick Down, who manages the estate’s farming business on behalf of Velcourt, is passionate about promoting UK agriculture and is a regular host of LEAF Open Farm Sunday.
Speaking at the launch, he said:
“Our focus is on developing the estate’s sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing the local environment through integrated farm management.
“This is such a vital time for sustainable farming, and the LEAF demonstration farm platform will be a fantastic way to showcase all the good things we are doing as an industry, to work with policy makers to help shape the future of farming and the environment as well as connect with the wider public.
“Being part of the Resilient & Ready programme was all about harnessing knowledge and technology in-house.
“Insights and mentoring from LEAF and Corteva were invaluable, engaging with experts, learning about ourselves and the estate, as well as meeting like-minded farmers has been invaluable.
“We are really looking forward to putting all we’ve learnt into action. “
