Environmental management benefits the River Test

publication date: Dec 19, 2007

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author/source: Natural England

From Natural England

A Hampshire estate has become the latest to benefit from joining DEFRA's Higher Level Stewardship scheme (HLS), run by Natural England to help provide grant support for farmers who undertake environmental management.

John Spedan Lewis, the Founder of the John Lewis Partnership and a gifted naturalist, was determined when he purchased the Leckford Estate on the banks of the River Test, that it should be managed in an environmentally responsible way - and that was 75 years ago. But, while the river valley has not been destroyed by agricultural improvement in the last fifty years, neither has it been grazed nor cut, resulting in
some of the meadows being overgrown with nettles, hawthorn and willow.

Iain Dalton, Estate General Manager, said: "This land is difficult to manage, we can't just put our high yielding dairy animals down there because they are used to grass and not the tough old stuff that grows on the meadows." The estate are now investing in traditional breeds like Hereford and North Devon cattle, which are hardy enough to thrive in tough conditions, and are gearing up to reintroducing grazing on the meadows. Iain added: "It is an exciting time. We are committed to improving the environment and this scheme helps provide the financial support to enable us to do
it."

Reintroduction of grazing is only half the story though and different techniques will be tried. Firstly cutting, which will involve the use of specialised equipment to cut and remove hay and reed without damaging the sensitive peat soil. Secondly, a limited controlled burning programme will be tried on some of the more inaccessible sites where machinery can not reach. Simon Duffield, Natural England: "The management of the river systems used to be labour intensive, which is why it is no longer practiced. What we are trying to do is deliver the same environmental benefits with management that is suitable for the 21st century."

"This part of Hampshire is rich in environmental features that range from species rich chalk downland to archaeological sites of national importance. The HLS agreement aims to protect and enhance these features too." "This is one of the most wide ranging HLS agreements set up in the county. The actions being taken by the estate will not only benefit the environment but also the wider community."