Frogmary Green Farm

Farmer: Nick and Claire Bragg

Address: Frogmary Green Farm, West Street, South Petherton, Somerset, TA13 5DJ

Website: www.frogmarygreenfarm.co.uk

Twitter: @FrogmaryGreen

Member since 2008 and LEAF Demonstration Farm since 2014

The Farm

Frogmary Green Farm is an arable farm in the heart of the Somerset countryside with sandy clay loam soils. Nick and Claire Bragg have run Frogmary Green Farm since 1992. In addition, Frogmary Green Farm was the first farming business to install a biomass woodchip boiler for the chicken house heating system using timber from the local woodland, providing a source of renewable energy. Solar PV panels have also been installed and Frogmary is now 100% reliant on renewable energy.

Nick and Claire farm 320 ha of arable crops, growing grass, cereals and maize. These crops feed an on-site AD plant, the biogas produced is fed directly into the national grid, and the digestate used back on the farm.

Activities

Nick and Claire have worked hard both on their own farm and neighbouring farms to tackle soil erosion and run-off problems. Changes have included planting an earlier variety of maize, incorporating rotational crops including two/three year grass leys, using min till where appropriate, establishing larger field margins and corners and using filter fences in high risk areas. Soil organic matter content is also slowly increasing through the use of cover crops.

Since 2002, 5km of hedgerows and 1800 trees have been planted, Wetland areas have also been created with two ponds and wildlife areas and the farm is under HLS and ELS. In addition, pollen and nectar margins have been planted to provide extra habitat for bumblebee and insects, resulting in huge diversity of wildlife making its home at Frogmary Green Farm including cuckoo, linnet, song thrush, skylark, swift and whitethroat.

Frogmary Green Farm also have a purpose-built classroom in their grounds where the local infant school and CIC organisation can educate young people in a farm setting which can reduce the pressure of being in a school environment.

Particular interests/farming topics:
High environmental standards run through everything that is done on farm and have worked hard to tackle soil erosion and run-off problems.

Visits

Nick and Claire are passionate about promoting agriculture having established close links with a number of local schools they get a real buzz from showing people around!

Members only resources

Sustainable Soil Management at Frogmary Green Farm

Energy Farm in Focus: Frogmary Green Farm

Visit this farm

Click here to arrange a visit to this LEAF Demonstration Farm.