Pink footed geese grazing on..
sugar beet.stubble at Reedham....


Farmland conservation
 Projects that have benefited farming and wildlife include
re-instating many miles of dykes, replacing blocked culverts
and also forming foot drains. These are used to bring water
on to the marshes in the dry summer months and take water
from the marshes to prevent flooding in winter.

The Halvergate, Reedham and Berney Marshes close
proximity to the Breydon estuary means they are home to
approximately 20 per cent of Norfolk's population of
breeding waders.

In addition, the influence of the RSPB's management
actions mean that the area attracts approximately 17,500 pink
footed geese, 30,000 lapwings, 26,000 wigeon and up to
30,000 golden plovers each year.

As well as receiving international recognition for farmland
conservation, the farm has been nominated for various food
awards.

Without profit from farming, landscape quality and wildlife
interest would suffer. As land managers, Beckhithe see
themselves not only producing food but also enhancing the
Broadland environment.

Barry Brooks, Clive Doarks and Colin
Hitchman of Natural England and Ian
Robinson of..RSPB.discussing
the merits of a newfoot drain in 2001.
Beckhithe 'lollipop' foot drain design.created
 in 2004 following trials of different.designs to
improve.habitat for breeding waders
and lapwings.
BENEFITS OF COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP & ENTRY LEVEL SCHEME
Beckhithe have entered all the arable upland into the
Countryside Stewardship Scheme & the new Entry Level Scheme
Countryside Stewardship Scheme features:
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 33 km of 6 metre field margins which provide new breeding and foraging habitat for rare
farmland birds such as grey partridge and small mammals, as well as protecting woodland
and watercourses.

Five 1 ha plots of wildlife seed mixture targeting grey partridge and yellow hammer.
10 ha of overwintered stubble followed by summer fallow to provide nesting habitat for
farmland bird species such as lapwing.

Careful management of existing hedgerows to provide food sources such as nectar and
berries for birds, small mammals and invertebrates

1.2 km of new bridleways
Entry Level Scheme features:
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 2.7 ha of 6 metre buffer strips on cultivated land

1.5 ha of wild bird seed mixture

1.5 ha of pollen and nectar flower mixture

12.3 km of hedgerow management

3.4 km of ditch management
Tel: 01493 701550 — Fax 01493 701588
e-mail gary@beckhithefarms.co.uk — www.beckhithefarms.co.uk