CLM Ltd

More setbacks for food, farming and nature.

𝗜𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵... Covering new information about the new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) and existing Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) schemes, the importance of patience and planning when thinking of the potential impact of new Inheritance Tax (IHT) rules, Small sites BNG, the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) for England, and CLM's recent expansion with the (re)addition of Nic Burchell to the team! #ICYMI #Update #CountrysideStewardship #SFI #SuccessionPlanning #BNG

🚜 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 🚜 The end of winter sees a flurry of activity with preparation for spring grown crops, in some cases this will involve destruction of cover crops before sowing the next cash crop. Knowing the most appropriate time to graze off cover crops to prepare for spring drilling can be difficult to judge, especially when compliance with Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements come into the mix. Destroying cover crops can be carried out in several ways including mechanical destruction, spraying with herbicides, winter injury (naturally through frost), and through grazing. Destroying the crop by grazing can maximise the return from cover crops by increasing livestock numbers or producing an additional income stream from renting out the land to graziers for a short period. 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: One of the main issues around destroying cover crops by grazing is compaction. Significant sub-surface compaction can occur, particularly when ground conditions are wet and poaching is more likely in high traffic areas such as around water troughs, feeders and gateways. Grazing smaller blocks with sufficient animals present to complete the grazing within 4-5 days is preferable, electric fencing should be utilised to create appropriate paddock sizes. Alternatively, strip grazing using a back fence works just as well. Remove livestock by late February, to allow time for regrowth to be sprayed before drilling the spring crop. Drill in mid to late March (or when conditions allow), to give plenty of time for the soil to warm up and dry out. First create a fine tilth for ideal conditions for seed germination and early plant growth, before drilling your spring crop 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗖𝗦𝗔𝗠𝟮 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗙𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗪𝟲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: 🌱 You must not destroy it before the end of the winter months, unless you’re establishing an early-sown spring crop. 🌱 You must not destroy the multi-species cover crop more than 6 weeks before you establish the early-sown spring crop. 🌱 When you destroy the multi-species cover crop, you should try to minimise risks such as compaction, poaching, soil runoff or erosion.   [Image: Cattle grazing stubble turnips by Wes at Iford Estate ]

🎈 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 🎉     Here are our 12 key take aways at the 12 month mark!   🌱 𝗛𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: 1. There are 43 gain sites (+1,200ha) on the Natural England Register, to provide units for offsetting, as of the beginning of Feb 2025. With more being onboarded. 2. There are 24 responsible bodies currently able to facilitate Conservation Covenant agreements (though many have restrictions on the type of ConCovs they will enter into). 3. Early constraints and opportunities assessment alongside optioneering work can prevent costly complications later down the line. 4. Achievable schemes are more favorable than ambitious ones. When creating a habitat bank, focus on attainable habitats taking all potential constraints into account. 5. BNG is more than numbers, pioneering investors are aligning BNG within their wider goals for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and sustainability strategies. (As seen through the emerging voluntary market eg. Homes for Nature, are-Nature credits etc). 6. There are still some initial agreement & land registry delays with getting sites set up and signed on to the register, this ought to be ironed out as more applications come forward. 7. Considering climate change is crucial to developing a robust and deliverable scheme, proposed habitats should be climate resilient for the delivery of long-term environmental benefits. 8. Consider Local and interim strategic significance guidance and emerging LNRS when identifying potential land for habitat banks. 🏡 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 9. When working on a development project early collaboration between ecologists, landscape architects, developers and planning agents will result in more timely project success. 10. Roughly ¾ of developments are achieving BNG onsite, but this is skewed as early planning applications with BNG applied have typically been smaller. 11. When to apply exemptions (or not) is still a puzzling concept for many small site applicants, with many planning portal applicants claiming BNG does not apply to them. 12. Where developers aren’t getting round to implementing their on-site gains in the first year of the scheme they may need to re-baseline to account for a delay in habitat implementation (and therefor may require more units). There are many positive lessons learnt from the first year of BNG and many areas which could benefit from refinement, as is to expect within the first year of any innovative legislation. With continued roll out of the legislation we hope to see a symbiotic relationship develop between development and nature recovery. #biodiversitynetgain #planning #development #ecology #legislation #S106 #conservationcovenant #bng

It has been a busy week of farmer cluster events, bringing together SME’s, local organisations and land managers to discuss challenges faced by everyone involved in environmental management. Here are the highlights: 🌱 Eastern South Downs: Regenerative Agriculture discussion with David Cornforth, Richard Harding and Isabella Goggin 💧 Swale: Discussion on balancing future water needs of the environment, people and the horticulture sector with Mark Betson Lee Dance Priscilla Haselhurst Sam Hughes Olwen Belgrove 🌳 1066: Woodland management and the grants available with the forestry commission, forestry England and Till Hill. In total we have reached 40 farmers and sparked some interesting discussion #farmerclusters #facilitationfund #landmanagement

🐦 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁, 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟳-𝟮𝟯 🐦   The Big Farmland Bird Count is an annual event that encourages farmers and land managers to record the bird species and numbers on their farms and surrounding land. It is organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and sponsored by the National Farmers Union (NFU). The count provides farmers, landowners, and wildlife managers with a way of measuring the impact of their conservation efforts. 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁: 🐦 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 Visit the GWCT big farmland birdcount website at 𝙝𝙩𝙩𝙥𝙨://𝙬𝙬𝙬.𝙗𝙛𝙗𝙘.𝙤𝙧𝙜.𝙪𝙠/𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚-𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩/𝙝𝙤𝙬-𝙩𝙤-𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚-𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩/ to download and print the helpful count sheet. 🦅 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱𝘀 On one day between the 7th and 23rd February spent 30 minutes recording the species and number of birds seen on one particular area of the farm, around 2 ha of the farm would be ideal. 🪿𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 You can submit your Big Farmland Bird Count results quickly and easily online once the count begins on 7 February 2025. For more information and to sign up visit: https://lnkd.in/eA_7RZK

2024 – A year in Birds Each January we collate the records of birds sighted over the previous 12 months. 2024 has been an exceptional year, with a total of 148 species observed, some in huge numbers, others passing through. Of these 77 (52%) had conservation status, 13 were new entrants into the all-time list bringing the total on that list to 177 with 95 having conservation status.   We were very excited in May to welcome a pair of White Storks for a week or so, while work by Rachel Bicker for the Scrubland Superheroes Project identified 2 pairs of breeding Nightingales, a first for Iford, and a sighting of an American Golden Plover over the summer was surely one of the rarest records. As usual the diversity of raptors was astounding, with Marsh and Hen Harriers regularly seen, Barn Owls appear to have had a recovery after the bird flu of 2022 and 2023 and the kites and buzzards are never far away. The receding flood waters in the spring created ideal breeding habitats for lapwing, greenshank and a probable redshank as well, with numbers far exceeding anything we’ve noted before. Ironically many of the chicks were used as hunting practice for the juvenile Peregrines – nature is a cruel beast! There is no doubt that Iford is a key stopping point for migrants as they make their journey south, waves of migrants come and go throughout the Autumn, while residents seem to be thriving on the diverse habitats found on the Estate. Ongoing work to create new habitats and enhance existing ones can only help, and as our BNG scheme gathers pace we are looking forward to more and more sightings in the years to come. CLM Ltd Graeme Lyons Anthony Weston Sarah Westbrook South Downs National Park Authority Neve Clatworthy Photo credit - Ben Taylor, Brian Cox

𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 Last week CLM’s Oli Pilbeam attended the three-day AICC (Association of Independent Crop Consultants) technical conference, where all things #agronomy, #technology, #sustainability and #policy were discussed with leading industry experts. Oli recounted his highlights from the event: “Despite the 2023/24 season being the most challenging for over 50 years due to extreme weather and high crop disease, it did serve up some interesting trial results when new chemistry was put to the extreme test. Study results were shared on the viability of break crops, this was analysed and discussions were hosted around ideas and experience on how #SFI crops could help or hinder farm performance on the ground. Finishing with a panel debate on the future of agricultural land use, we had insightful talks from Ben Abell - Head of Agronomy at Dyson Farming Farming, David Exwood - NFU (National Farmers' Union) Vice President, Professor Paul Wilson - Director for University of Nottingham Food Policy and Peter Craven - Head of Agriculture at Natural England .”

𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗥𝗔 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗶𝗲𝗿 (𝗖𝗦𝗛𝗧) 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 (𝗦𝗙𝗜) DEFRA announced updates to the new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) and existing Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) schemes via a webinar on January 8th. While there are still many unanswered questions, it’s put more flesh on the bones of what the schemes are offering.   💡 To date, Defra has officially announced 132 actions (25 of which are new) and 151 capital items, all of which will be available in CSHT. Alongside this, there are 14 new SFI endorsed actions which will be available from summer 2025.    💡 The aim of the new and improved management actions is to be more flexible and less prescriptive. 59 of the actions are similar to actions available in SFI, these are to be included in CSHT so agreements can easily be tailored to the site.   💡 For existing agreement holders, those with CSHT agreements which expired in 2024 (not including woodland) will be offered five- or ten-year mirror CSHT agreements. Further to this, two-year extensions are being offered to those with HLS agreements which expired in 2024. Finally, one- or two-year extensions will be offered to those with an agreement ending in 2025.   💡 The application window for CSHT will open in summer 2025, but will be by invitation only, and there will be a focus on people who have developed woodland management plans or completed feasibility studies.    💡 In February, DEFRA is expected to announce how and when those not invited can apply for new CSHT. It was announced that woodland management plan holders (those which began in 2023 up to the end of 2024) who have not applied for woodland HT will be prioritised, and that they are working through this list in date order.   💡 It has been announced that the new CSHT scheme will be non-competitive. This means there is no scoring system as previously was the case. Defra is only considering applications from people who either have an existing woodland management plan or have completed a feasibility study, as this is how they will judge which applications will deliver the highest environmental benefit.   💡 Additionally, the revenue payments under CSHT will now be paid in quarterly instalments, similarly to those under SFI. If you’d like to discuss support with your Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) or Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) schemes get in touch by calling 𝟬𝟭𝟴𝟵𝟮 𝟳𝟳𝟬𝟯𝟯𝟵 or visit 𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗰-𝗹-𝗺.𝗰𝗼.𝘂𝗸 #defra #agrienvironment #ruralgrant #sfi #highertier #ruralconsultancy

Everyone at CLM would like to wish all our clients, past and present, a very Merry Christmas! 🎄 🎁