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Hampden Bottom Farm
Hampden Bottom Farm is a 486 hectare farm located in the Chilton Hills, Buckinghamshire where willing wheat, spring field beans and oil seed rape are grown.
Farmer: Ian Waller
Address: Rignall Road, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, HP16 9PT
Website: http://www.hampdenherdwicks.co.uk
Member since 2005 and LEAF Demonstration Farm since 2006
The Farm
Hampden Bottom Farm is a 486 hectare all arable farm located in the Chilton Hills where milling wheat, spring field beans and oil seed rape are grown. The wheat is grown for Warburtons, RHM for bread and the oil seed rape is grown on energy contracts. By following a balanced crop rotation, using appropriate crop protection products and application equipment, the build-up of weeds, pests and diseases is discouraged. All crop management decisions are based on careful monitoring, regular rotational soil testing and crop walking. Wherever possible, minimum tillage is carried out. The farm stopped ploughing in 1998cand all crops are direct drilled. A nutrient and soil management plan is available on a field by field basis to ensure the nutrients are optimised for crop performance. A small flock of Herdwick Sheep graze the species rich chalk grassland.
Activities
Hampden Bottom Farm was one of the first (and largest) farms in the South East to be accepted into the HLS stewardship scheme. There are over 35 kilometres of hedges and 38 kilometres of 2 metre buffer strips which are planted with floristically enhanced grass margins. The species rich chalk grassland is managed to encourage tawny and barn owl and the farm is well populated with skylarks and yellow hammers. Lapwings have returned to the farm following the creation of the new lapwing nesting area. One small area of the farm has been left uncultivated for 25 years and is a haven for ant hills which attract large numbers of green woodpeckers. Other bird species include red kites, buzzards, song thrushes and English partridges.
Particular interests/farming topics:
- Conservation, reducing artificial inputs
- Encouraging predator species and earthworms
- Looking at the wider view
Visits
We look forward to welcoming you to Hampden Bottom Farm and to explaining how we combine commercial farming with high standards of environmental care. Please contact LEAF for information.
About LEAF Demonstration Farms
LEAF Demonstration Farms are commercial farms, which show the beneficial practices of Integrated Farm Management (IFM) to a broad range of audiences, through organised visits. They communicate an understanding of IFM in order to encourage uptake by farmers, support from the industry and political awareness of sustainable food and farming.
Visit this farm
Click here to arrange a visit to this LEAF Demonstration Farm.