This year we start work on a new agri-environment project.
In collaboration with NatureScot & Scotgov, we've worked with a fantastic team of ecologists to conduct a whole-farm biodiversity audit and devise a plan of how best to manage the complex mosaic of habitats that make up this upland farm. Tony, Richard & Duncan spent weeks walking the farm taking detailed notes of species, habitats, condition, and the potential for improvement. Our exciting plan is to be implemented over the next 5 years.
The next 5 years
1. Grazing management plan
Our wonderful, ancient hefting system was used to determine areas, habitats, and grazing pressures. This allows us to optimise grazing for both biodiversity and animal health. We currently manage upland, species-rich dry and wet meadows, upland habitat mosaics, water margins, wetlands and moorland through the careful manipulation of sheep within their hefts.
2. Upland Scrub
The Habbies Howe Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) has long been noted for its rare plant assemblages and upland scrub.
Working with NatureScot, we plan to extend the controlled SSSI grazing area. Grazing will be initially excluded in three gullies to allow scrub to naturally regenerate.
After 3 years, a new survey will inform where additional seeding or planting may be necessary to supplement the regenerated scrub and seed bank already present. The corridors of scrub alongside wetland scrapes and rewetting will create insect superchargers - allowing the more open, dry and wet surrounding heathland habitat to flourish.
3. Wetlands
The wetland or water margin is another biodiversity "supercharger". Throughout the Eastside glen we are creating a string of wetlands, water margins, and scrapes to hold water, slow the flow of water and act as an insect engine house.
4. Waders & Scrapes
We're lucky to have red-listed wader species nesting on the farm - curlew & lapwing. We continue our work with waders, increasing the areas dedicated to wader-nesting, increasing the number of shallow wetland scrapes needed for feeding and supporting young birds, and through signage to avoid disturbance of known nesting sites in a busy regional park (Eastside is within the Pentland Hills Regional Park).
5. Upland Meadows
Dry and wet meadows (as well as habitat mosaics) are managed through carefully timed grazing. Flowering species are allowed to flower and seed before grazing provides wax cap and corral fungi the optimal conditions to fruit.
Our meadows are naturally diverse, and need only thoughtful grazing management rather than more drastic reseeding intervention. Sometimes a light touch is the right one.
Susan's green fingers have been put to good use in the last few years growing cranesbill and yellow rattle to plug plant into the sward.
6. Hedges & Dykes
Hedges are not a common agricultural feature in our part of the uplands as drystone dykes were used historically. This year however, we are adding half a kilometre of mixed-species hedging to act as wildlife corridors, slow water flow, and capture carbon.
The dykes are an ongoing labour of love to patch and fix but provide invaluable homes birds and beasties (they're a favourite of the palmate newt) as well as fantastic miniature forests of moss and lichen.
7. Wild bird cover
The small historic hectarage of upland arable was a valuable feed and food source for many of our smaller song birds and grey partridge. We are reintroducing this through strips of wild bird mix within our improved inby pasture. Creating a winter food source and cover for birds as well as a more diverse habitat mosaic within the lower fields.
8. Raptor & Owl Boxes
Working in partnership with Graham and Keith has been a joy in recent years and together we've sited nesting boxes and kept tabs on their occupants. We have healthy breeding pairs of kestrels, merlins, peregrines, buzzards, tawny owls, barn owls and short eared owls most years (though not all opt for the accommodation we provide!)
Graham and Keith are registered bird recorders and ring the birds to help keep track of them and increase understanding of these birds and their behaviours.
9. Mixed farm woodlands
A small mixed (conifer/ broadleaf/ native) farm woodland is being created later this year. A true multi-use wood designed with wildlife, livestock shelter, and timber for use on the farm in mind.