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