The aim is to approach farming in Lavington in a regenerative agriculture organic system, adopting an agro-ecological approach. This will increase biodiversity and have ecosystem services at the forefront of how the farm produces food. The farming land is grassland and has provided ideal grazing and forage for horses over the years.

This grassland is nearly entirely ryegrass and, as a result, lacks biodiversity. A key focus is to increase biodiversity, by diversifying the grassland sward to a more flower rich habitat. Regenerative agriculture remains the overarching theme and is at the core of the farms vision. All of the livestock will be grass fed only, no cereal or concentrates will be used, and they will be managed sensitively to maximise welfare and to minimise environmental impact. They are a vital part of the management of the wood pasture and grassland. They will provide locally produced high quality nutritionally dense food products that have had a positive impact on the supply chain, the environment and the consumer.

Regenerative agriculture is an active, management-based system of farming which will be central to the running of the Lavington Estate and Stud. It protects soil life ensuring the environment can thrive within an agricultural system. It promotes and harnesses natural, and ecological processes instead of using synthetic inputs. To optimise plant, animal and human health, regenerative farming builds up soil organic matter to maintain a biologically active soil. Healthier soil will have a better capacity to hold water, cycle nutrients, provide habitat and be the best starting point of food production.
The farming principles and practices of regenerative agriculture are:

• Soil health and fertility.
• Increasing biodiversity (plants, animals and insects).
• Carbon sequestration (taking carbon out of the atmosphere and putting it back into the ground).
• High animal welfare.
• Improving water cycle.
• Increasing resilience to climate change.

The elimination of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and imported livestock feed is also a key part of the vision with an aspiration to become organic in time. The physical farm features and enterprises operating on it will be interconnected and each enterprise will work together symbiotically providing habitats for increased biodiversity, high quality sustainably produced food, and a profitable business that supports the local economy providing employment opportunities.

Dairy

A micro dairy will be established at our Hoyle farm depot in conjunction with Lavington. This will be an ethical calf at foot dairy where cows will raise their calves until they are ready to be weaned. This is unusual for a dairy herd as in conventional systems calves are separated from cows immediately upon calving to maximise milk yield. Keeping the calf at foot mimics what would happen in nature and is much more ethical and natural for both the cow and calf.

The cows will live in their natural environment, kept outdoors all-year round but provided with natural shelter (woodlands and low points in the land) for protection against extreme weather. The herd will be managed using rotational grazing to focus on pasture regeneration and carbon sequestration. They will be moved daily depending on pasture needs and could be up to four times a day to maximise the quality of feed the animals are eating.

The milk and other dairy products will be sold direct to local customers within the National Park. This approach to dairy farming and combined with the species rich forage the cows will consume will produce very high quality and healthy dairy products, far more so than is available in supermarkets.

Beef

A native breed herd of Red Poll and Northern Shorthorn will be used to provide grazing for the wood-pasture, wetland and species rich grass areas and will be an essential management tool in order to maintain and enhance biodiversity and also produce a high quality locally reared products that will be sold in the local area. This sustainable approach to beef farming not only helps enhance the natural environment, but also provides the community with a sustainable, local source of quality red meat.

Sheep

A sheep enterprise will be established and will act as a grazing management tool for both the species rich grassland and the wood pasture. The way in which sheep graze is very complimentary to that of cattle as they graze much closer to the ground and thus are a fantastic tool for managing the grassland alongside the cattle in a system called mixed grazing.

Just like the cattle the sheep will be grass fed and will be an excellent source of local, sustainable red meat and wool.

Stud Farm

As Lavington Stud has such a rich heritage of breeding high quality racehorses. It is intended that the farm continues to run and operate as an equine working stud farm in keeping with the cultural values of the business and setting. This is likely to be specialist in approach.