Orchard Farm
A connected living landscape
Orchard Farm supports a rich mosaic of habitats within a working agricultural landscape.
Permanent grassland, chalk grassland, wildflower areas, mature hedgerows, woodland, individual trees, orchard habitat and water all contribute to the ecological character of the farm. Together, they provide food, shelter, breeding areas and routes through the landscape for a remarkably varied range of wildlife.
Wildlife
The farm supports a diverse community of farmland birds, including yellowhammers, corn buntings, skylarks and turtle doves, alongside red kites, barn owls, kestrels, buzzards and sparrowhawks.
Our woodland and hedgerows provide habitat for dormice and bats, as well as woodland birds including lesser-spotted woodpeckers, hawfinches, marsh tits and willow tits.
The chalk grassland is particularly important for invertebrate life. Butterflies recorded on the farm include Adonis blue, chalkhill blue, silver-spotted skipper and Duke of Burgundy, together with hummingbird hawk-moths and glow-worms.
The farm pond and wetter areas add another dimension, supporting water voles, frogs, toads and newts, as well as dragonflies and a wide range of aquatic invertebrates.
Together, these species reflect both the diversity of Orchard Farm and the distinctive ecology of the wider Chiltern landscape. Our aim is to protect the habitats they depend on and strengthen the connections between them.
Biodiversity as natural infrastructure
We do not regard biodiversity as separate from productive farming or something confined to the edges of fields. It forms part of the natural infrastructure on which the farm depends.
Healthy soils support grassland and crops. Flowering plants sustain pollinators and other insects. Insects support birds and wildlife. Hedgerows provide shelter and movement corridors, while trees influence shade, water, microclimate and the wider landscape.
Our aim is therefore not simply to protect individual species or habitats, but to strengthen the diversity, quality and connectivity of the farm as a whole.
By improving the links between grassland, hedgerows, woodland, water, orchard and wildflower areas, we want to create a landscape that is richer in wildlife and more resilient over time.
Wildflower Meadows
Our wildflower meadows are an important part of this ecological network.
A greater diversity of flowering plants and grasses provides food and habitat for bees, butterflies and other insects throughout the growing season. In turn, these insects support pollination, birds and other wildlife across the farm.
We aim to increase the ecological value of these areas over time while retaining the character of a traditionally farmed Chiltern landscape.
Pond & Wetland Habitat
The farm pond and wetter areas introduce a distinct and valuable habitat to Orchard Farm.
Open water and surrounding vegetation support aquatic life, amphibians, insects, birds and mammals, while also providing an important source of water for wildlife.
We manage these areas as part of the wider ecological network rather than as isolated features. Together with the grassland, wildflower meadows, hedgerows, woodland and orchard, they add to the diversity and connectivity of habitats across the farm.
Trees, Hedgerows & Woodland
Trees and hedgerows form much of the ecological framework of Orchard Farm.
They provide shelter for livestock, nesting and feeding habitat for wildlife and important corridors through which species can move across the landscape. They also contribute significantly to the distinctive character of the Chiltern Hills.
Our long-term programme includes planting around 100 native trees each year, alongside the protection, renewal and strengthening of existing hedgerows and woodland.
The aim is not simply to increase tree numbers, but to improve habitat connectivity, replace trees lost through age or disease, increase species diversity and strengthen the resilience of the landscape for the future.
The trees and hedgerows we establish today are intended to remain part of Orchard Farm for generations to come.
