The Manhood Farmers Cluster Group was founded in 2020, a group of six farmers working together to grow sustainable food and enhance wildlife across their farms. Including farms within the Chichester Harbour National Landscape, they focus on collaboration and knowledge exchange aiming to show that there is room for productive agriculture, food production and nature to co-exist.
The group is funded by the Farming in Protected Landscapes Scheme which is administered by Chichester Harbour Conservancy. Since its creation the group has undertaken many projects; they recently held a farm tour to showcase some of these environmental schemes, attended by local farmers, agricultural representatives and staff from Chichester Harbour Conservancy’s farming and nature recovery teams.
Habitat Creation
Wildlife strips are an excellent way to create habitat and provide food for pollinators and wildlife. The tour looked at wildlife strips in various stages of development – examples of pollen and nectar strips as well as advanced Grey Partridge wildlife habitat plots. Grey Partridges are farmland birds, once widespread throughout the UK, they have experienced steep population declines linked to loss of habitat and food sources as a result in changing farming practices. The Manhood Farmers Cluster Group is working to improve habitat for these birds with initiatives including a wildlife island in the middle of a productive arable field, an example of how food production and conservation can go hand in hand.
As well as the Grey Partridge, many other farmland birds are in decline. Another way the group is addressing this issue is with winter supplementary feeding. The tour looked at some of the farmland feeders that have been placed around the cluster group farms, to provide extra seeds for birds in the late winter when seed is in short supply (known as the hungry gap).
Find out more…
The Manhood Farmers Cluster Group is keen to engage local populations about their work. Early next year, you will be able to watch a few short films highlighting some of the environmental schemes underway. These will be linked to QR codes on signs around farm footpaths – a great reason to visit.