14 Acre Winter Field Restoration (£2,500)

14 Acre Winter Field Restoration 🌱🐴

Help us restore and reseed our 14 acre field, one of the most important fields here at the Sanctuary. This has always been our main winter turnout field as it drains better than any of the other fields on the farm.  It has also traditionally provided us with a valuable crop of haylage each year to help feed all the boys and girls.

We always strive to work as naturally and sympathetically with our land as possible, but sadly, we are now having to resort to more drastic action to regenerate the grass in this field. Before reaching this point, we explored alternative methods, including spreading lime to adjust the soil’s pH in an effort to encourage healthy grasses to out compete the weeds. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, the field has not recovered as we had hoped.

Following advice from our seed supplier and land management specialists, we have now had to make the difficult decision to carry out a full restoration process. This includes carefully treating the field with a glyphosate herbicide to reset the existing growth. It’s not a step we take lightly, but one recommended as the most effective way to give the new grass the best possible start.

After treatment, the field will be left to rest for a couple of weeks before being harrowed, rolled, and reseeded. Once the new grass begins to establish, we will aim to introduce sheep to gently graze it, helping to promote strong, healthy regrowth.

Because of this work, we won’t be taking a cut of haylage from this field this year. Instead, our focus is on allowing the grass to properly establish so that it can grow in well ahead of winter, ready for it to be grazed again this coming winter.

This field plays a vital role in the wellbeing of our girls and boys and the long-term sustainability of the Sanctuary. Restoring it properly now will ensure healthier grazing for years to come.

Any contribution towards this process truly makes a difference in helping us bring this field back to life.

The seed will cost £900 and contractor fees for the work associated with regenerating the area along with the products used to clear the weeds are expected to bring the total cost to £2,500