Farming
Traditionally farming in this county was mixed livestock and
arable. Grass was also needed to feed the work horses. In the 1930's there were
22 let farms on the Abbots Ripton Estate of which 7 were derelict due to the
Depression. Most of the surviving tenants owed several year's rent. In those
days one landowner would enquire of another "Have you much land in
hand?" "Yes I am afraid I have" was often the reply! The need
for home produced food in the Second World War brought derelict land back into
production.
The Estate Farms are now mainly arable and grow a diverse range of crops on
several different clay and fen soils. The largest acreage is Winter Wheat, some
of which is contracted to the UK's largest bread and biscuit flour millers and
bakers. The balance of the clay land grows barley, dried peas, oilseed rape and
spring beans. Precision has always been the key to healthy soils and profitable
crops. The latest satellite technology has enabled us to attain a level of
accuracy undreamed of in the past, setting variable rates for every part of
every field and then measuring the results achieved.
On our fenland we also grow potatoes and 24,000 tonnes of sugar beet for
British Sugar’s Wissington sugar factory. Producing quality potatoes to meet
the demands of the major supermarkets makes wheat growing look simple! We also
grow specialist chipping varieties for traditional fish and chip shops.
On the Abbots Ripton farm we also have 300 acres of grass for sheep, horses and
our music festival The Secret Garden Party.
The company meets the environmental demands of the Higher Level Stewardship
specification and is very aware of the environment. We are members of
various schemes which enhance wildlife habitat thus increasing bird and insect
populations on the farm. Our reservoirs have also been designed and managed
with diversity of nature in mind.
We have responded to concerns over climate change by generating electricity
from a 120 acre solar park and 14 barns fitted with solar panels. Where
practical we use min till techniques to reduce gas emissions.
Although we are intensive farmers we always have a conservation balance at the
forefront of our decision making. Every year we keep detailed records of the
numbers and diversity of many sorts of fauna and flora e.g. fungi, woodland
plants, moths, butterflies, birds etc. Thus the range of soils and habitats are
managed with diversity in mind.
