Our Environment ...
Solar Panels
Constantly aware of the environment and the need to protect future generations, we decided to install solar panels to aid the running of the dairy. The 50kw array reduces our reliance on conventional energy and minimises our depletion of natural resources.
They are mounted low to the ground to reduce their visible impact.
Carbon Footprint
There are often observations regarding the quantities of methane produced by cattle, and, in particular, dairy cows.
By grazing cows, we are fixing carbon for the following reason; cows are ruminants and are able to produce protein from plants.
These plants fix carbon as they grow, but have evolved to be eaten. If these grasses were no longer grazed, they would become rank and stop fixing carbon. By continually grazing, we are continuing this fixing process.
Vigorous grass growth requires nitrogen. We include a high proportion of clovers (nitrogen fixing legumes) in our grass leys to provide this mixture, helping us to reduce our applications of synthetic fertilisers.
Housing cattle all year round requires machinery to grow, conserve and distribute the feed and bedding, and dispose of their manure. However, by allowing our cows to graze their own grass and spread their own muck!, we are reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.
If a person decides not to drink milk and eat meat, where do they turn for protein? And what impact would this substitution have on the environment?
Barn Owls
We are lucky to host the Babcary Barn Owl Box for the Community Barn Owl Project
The Barn Owl is on Schedule 1 of both the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and The Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order (1985), therefore, the birds, their nests, eggs and young are fully protected at all times.
They are birds of prey hunting and catching small mammals, mostly field voles. Here at the farm, we manage our hedgerows as wildlife corridors providing food and shelter that enable wildlife to link up with isolated habitats.
Our box is being monitored by Chris Sperring MBE, the Hawk and Owl Trust’s Conservation Officer in the South West, and in 2014 we had a confirmed breeding pair.