Environmental Stewardship Schemes

The University Farm has entered into Higher and Entry Level Stewardship (HLS & ELS) agreements. Options include the management under stewardship prescriptions of:

• 23.5km of hedgerows
• 7.75km of ditches
• 9.25ha of buffer strips
• 5.24ha of uncultivated field corners
• 108ha of permanent pasture managed under no or low nutrient input regimes
• 16.6ha of formerly arable land established as wildflower meadow
• 74ha of pasture managed with no nutrient input
• 6ha of extended overwintered stubble
• 7.6ha of nectar flower mixes
• 13.5ha of wild bird seed mixes.

Energy Conservation

Installation of Solar Panels on Farm Buildings

• Project completed in 2011
• 12 Solar panels installed on one building
• Estimated annual savings of £2,000 on energy costs.

Robot cleaning dirty solar panels on farm building.

Lightning Replacement in Farm Buildings

• Project commissioned in February 2019.
• 34 LED luminaires replaced the existing Metal Halide luminaires in the Dairy Building, and 6 LEDs replacements made in the Straw Barn.
• The LEDs have in-built red lamps for improved staff welfare during night time working.
• £10,000 savings in annual energy consumption.
• Reduction of 22% in total carbon emissions.

Slurry & Farmyard Manure Management

Trailing Shoe used to apply slurry