LAUND FARM

CHIPPING, PRESTON

GEOLOGY & SOIL TYPES

200 acres of Laund Farm is on limestone, and there is a transition band of slatey clays mixed in with limestones which has never been intensively farmed and supports a rich mix of species. Most of the farm is heavy clay soils.

FLORA

Laund Farm hosted open days for farmers including one on Rush Management to attract nesting wading birds in the Spring of 2004.

Throughout the Stewardship Schemes, new ponds have been introduced with hedgerows and trees planted.

In the new scheme, management of areas of grassland for wild flowers has also been established.

The field with the lime kiln and limestone outcrop is also botanically species rich.

FAUNA

At the back of Laund Farm, there are 120-130 acres which are classed as 'wild farm'. This is generally of poorer quality but with lots of opportunities for encouraging flora and fauna.

By managing fields that were infested with rushes, creating several scrapes and other wet features to provide insect rich feeding areas and entering the higher altitude land on the farm into environmental stewardship, Simon has encouraged more Lapwings, Curlew, Redshank, Snipe and Oystercatcher to nest. Around 20 pairs of Lapwing alone nest on the farm each spring compared to just 4 pairs prior to Simon's habitat management work. Laund Farm's breeding waders are surveyed annually by an RSPB volunteer.


 

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