Wildlife Conservation

In 2012 Friars Court was granted Natural England’s ‘Higher Level Stewardship' status. The farm was deemed eligible as it applies a number of conservation techniques to enhance and protect wildlife.

Some of the conservation practices in operation on the farm include 65 acres of wild grass watermeadows, an 11 acre wildflower meadow and a 5 acre lake and wetland habitat. 6 metre grass headlands surround many fields to create natural corridors for wildlife and attract a wide variety of plants, birds, insects and animals. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has reported sightings of lapwings and curlew and there have been a marked increase in skylarks. There have also been reports of otters down by the River.

The farm also has two rare species living within its vicinity; the tree sparrow and the barberry moth, and conservation methods to help their breeding habitats are being implemented.