Field 10 - Below Sewer
Unimaginatively known as "Below Sewer" - for obvious reasons!
This field is currently part of our grass rotation.
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We rotate temporary grass crops around each field on the farm to help control weeds and add fertility to the soil. This field was sown with grass in Autumn 2023 and will remain as a grass field for at least 4 years.
The grass here is a special blend of species known as a "herbal ley". Not only is there grass growing but a range of plants like chicory and clover.
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This provides a more varied diet for our sheep as well as added benefits for the soil. The chicory has huge roots which can help improve drainage and the clover "fixes" nitrogen in the soil meaning we can reduce our use of artificial fertilisers.
A cut of silage will be taken in the Spring time. This is where the grass is mown, baled up and then wrapped in plastic. This causes the grass to ferment which preserves it - a bit like pickled grass!
We can then feed this to our cows and sheep over winter.
After the silage has been cut, the sheep will move in to graze the new shoots. They will spend the next few years grazing this field, adding fertility with their manure, ready for the field to return back to crops.
