Nature - lang-partnership.com

WORKING WITH NATURE

ENVIRONMENT STEWARDSHIP

The Lang Partnership takes a holistic approach to enhancing and sustaining the natural environment and all that thrives upon it.

Flora & plant life

86 acres of wildflower meadows have been created.

Flower rich grass margins weave around 40km of field edges.

These meadows and grass margins have over 55 species of flowers & grasses creating vital habitats for pollinators.

40km of traditional hedgerows have been restored and managed, offering wildlife corridors and shelter.

6 hectares of native woodland planted with 16,000 trees.

Cultivated areas managed specifically for rare arable plants.

35 hectares of two-year sown legume fallow enriches the soil as part of our arable rotation, building fertility naturally.

FAUNA & WILDLIFE

8 ponds created for wildlife, including a new Great Crested Newt Pond introduced in 2021.

6 hectares of wild bird seed plots & 3.5 hectares of nectar flower mixes grown to support pollinators and farmland birds.

Skylark plots provide crucial space for these ground-nesting birds.

Supplementary winter feed ensures farmland birds remain supported through the hungry gap.

Sustainable Practices

Full restoration of our Grade II listed 18th-century barn, connecting heritage and sustainability in harmony.

Solar Power: A solar array generating 120kw, powering over 80% of our operations.

biodiversity boost

Native wildflower meadows support a wide variety of plant, insect and animal species. The diverse range of flowers attracts pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, promoting a healthy ecosystem.

carbon sequestration

Meadows, woodland and orchards help sequester carbon dioxide, contributing to efforts to mitigate climate change. Every 1% uplift in Soil Organic Matter sequesters c. 80-90 tonnes of CO2e/yr/ha – soil analysis on our arable reversion wildflower meadows indicate increases from 7% up to 11.7% over the past 20 years, which equates to approximately 400 tonnes per hectare!

soil health

Soil health enhanced through minimal cultivation, incorporating crop residues, controlling farm traffic and nitrogen fixing break crops to improve water retention, fertility and soil organic matter, while reducing compaction.

awards & Accolades

Through years of dedicated environmental work, Home Farm has witnessed a significant increase in biodiversity and our efforts have been recognised through a number of awards and accolades:

Bees’ Needs Champions (2016)
Somerset Farming and Wildlife Award (2000, 2008, 2019)
National FWAG Silver Lapwing Award finalists (2001, 2010 & 2023)
Big Barn Restoration Commendation, Somerset Award (2012)
Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust Bronze Partridge Award
BASC Stanley Duncan Conservation Award
Numerous Farm Management Awards

positive & lasting impact

Over the years we have achieved some notable conservation milestones. Among our proudest achievements are:

Thriving bumblebee populations, including the rare and endangered Shrill Carder Bee flourishing in our field margin
An abundance of butterflies, with species like the scarce Brown Hairstreak colonising our hedgerows and margins.
Harvesting and marketing wildflower seeds to benefit other ecosystems.
Gaining national recognition for rare arable plants, such as the critically endangered Shepherd’s Needle and Spreading Hedge-Parsley.
A surge in vole populations in wildflower margins, providing vital food for Barn Owls. Over the past decade, the Hawk and Owl Trust has recorded a large number of Barn Owl owlets.