Despite the weather
doing its very best to thwart the establishment of the game cover and
conservation crops, the various plots around
the farm are on the whole looking very good indeed. James Watchorn (our
gamekeeper) has been working hard all through the summer (with technical support
from Richard Barnes of Kings Game Cover and Conservation Crops) to ensure there
is sufficient food and cover to support a host of game and farmland bird species
through the coming winter.
Wild bird seed
mixtures such as Moir Mix and Campaign Mix have replaced much of the maize area
(some maize has been retained) providing a more diverse range of seed and cover
as well as meeting our needs for the correct area of enhanced wild bird seed
required by our HLS scheme.
Areas of Kings kale blend have flourished with the
recent warmer weather and the rainfall last
week will keep the late sown catch crops growing through the autumn.
The plots were a
useful backdrop for a GWCT Part Time
Gamekeepers course held recently on the farm, which was attended by 14
enthusiastic game managers.
A selection of autumn
sown nectar flower, wild bird seed and brood rearing crops are being planted
this week to increase the range of habitats provided.
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