Out in the Field

Recently, the Whitings LLP Farming Group spent a day away from the office out on the farm at Shimpling Park Farms Limited. We were welcomed with open arms on the day to a wonderful setting for our biannual meeting, courtesy of Alice Pawsey and her wonderful catering staff. We spent the morning learning about the topics covered in this newsletter, and discussing matters of importance to our agricultural clients across the firm before setting out after lunch on a guided farm walk by owner occupier John Pawsey.

Fortunately, the weather was on our side on the day and no wellies were required. In fact, it was eye opening to see just how dry it was out on the farm having visited in the middle of a prolonged dry spell in April, although you wouldn’t have realised it purely from looking at the lush green crops.

As an organic arable farm that also rears Romney sheep it was incredibly interesting to hear how rotation, soil fertility and sustainability work hand in hand to not only produce high quality food and an abundance of homes for wildlife, but also to make sure the farm is viable for generations to come.

Discussing rotations on the day that build fertility, fix nitrogen in the soil and reduce weed growth; the plantation and management of trees and hedgerows that act as natural field boundaries but also shelter and food sources for a whole range of wildlife; and also the care given in educating the next generation through numerous school visits each year; it all seemed to make so much sense.

I’m acutely aware that not every farm’s set up leads them to be as sustainable as Shimpling Park Farms Limited, but as extremes in global events rise, be that in terms of weather or geopolitics, farms need to ensure that they are environmentally and financially stable enough to weather the storms. I’m also a big believer that little actions undertaken across the country can add up to make a big difference overall, and that goes for all of us not just farmers.