Minister visits Wiltshire organic farm ahead of new environment laws

Richard Allan was given the opportunity during a tour of the 70-acre Whaddon Grove Farm in Whaddon.

He showed Trudy Harrison, the Minister for Natural Environment and Land Use, accompanied by Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan, around the farm near Hilperton.

Mr Allan said: “It was a great opportunity to outline how we are farming with nature at Whaddon Grove Farm whilst still producing wholesome and nutritious food at a fair price.

“We really hope that it will raise the profile of organic and regenerative farming within DEFRA and that we helped to demonstrate that farmers can deliver on improving water quality, increasing carbon sequestration and increasing biodiversity.  

“Nature provides many of the answers to the questions currently facing us - and farming alongside nature has to be the future of farming in Wiltshire.”

Richard Allan shows Trudy Harrison and Michelle Donelan some of his organic farfming methods at Whaddon Grove Farm. Photo: Aaron Davidson (Image: Aaron Davidson)

Whaddon Grove is a small organic family farm and Richard, 58, and his wife Helen, 52, have farmed there for nearly 16 years.

They operate it to organic standards, raising traditional breeds of slow-maturing Shetland sheep and Devon Ruby Red cattle on natural clover-rich pastures.

Mr and Mrs Allan focus on three land-use types that will result in a material increase in biodiversity and will increase ‘wild space’ on the farm, whilst not impacting profitability.

Riparian Buffers, areas adjoining watercourses protected from livestock and tree plantings, will improve water quality, flood control and biodiversity.

Hedged wood pastures, which are a series of paddocks with four sides of hedge and trees, will improve pasture production and ponds, wet woods and scrub will improve, among many things, carbon sequestration.

The Minister said the upcoming Environmental Land Management Schemes will reward British farmers for crucial environmental work.

The Minister said: “I found the visit to Whaddon useful and insightful and I will be picking up some of the issues raised by Richard.

“With our landmark Environmental Improvement Plan, we have been crystal clear that we will halt the decline in our biodiversity so that we can achieve thriving plants and wildlife."

Miss Donelan said: “Now that we have left the EU, we have a golden opportunity to ensure that agricultural subsidies better support British farmers and the natural world.

“Richard demonstrated to the Minister and I, how organic farming can both be profitable and environmentally sustainable.

“Our new Environmental Land Management Schemes will expand this model of farming across the country, and Richard’s input will help further improve our ground-breaking Environmental Land Management Schemes.”