Herbal Ley Event

Join Catchment Sensitive Farming for a morning with Ben Rodgers at Kenton Hall, kindly hosted by Tom McVeigh. We will have a presentation from Ben inside, followed by a trailer ride to the Herbal Leys, which border Tom’s agroforestry field, for further questions and discussion.
The event will focus on herbal leys and the wider herbal ley farming system approach, providing an alternative to intensive forage-based systems that rely heavily on artificial nitrogen fertiliser.

We will explore the best ways to implement herbal ley actions in agri-environment schemes, including:

• Establishment methods most likely to deliver success
• How to phase herbal leys into a forage-based farming system while achieving good yields and reducing nitrogen fertiliser use
• Choosing the right site and seed mix for herbal leys
• How to manage and maintain herbal leys for productivity and resilience including using short-term break crops for W**d and pest control
• Performance of herbal leys during recent drought conditions
  

About Kenton Hall
Kenton Hall is a 450 acre mixed farm which has moved from conventional to ‘regen’ practices over the past 5 years. The farm has experimented with agroforestry, beetle banks and varying stewardship mixes during this transition period as well as whole change in establishment methods.

Farm | Discover Sustainable Farming Today — Kenton Hall Estate

- Herbal leys established in 2021 around their agroforestry block, which was previously an arable field
- Herbal leys utilized primarily for its environmental benefits, and has been cut for hay this year
- The farm intends to integrate herbal leys into the wider arable rotation in the future
About Ben

• CSF Adviser working within the Derbyshire Peak District - River Wye catchment
• Since 2019 has supported farmers trialling herbal leys and their integration into intensive grassland / livestock systems
• Productive soils dominated by perennial ryegrass and receiving up to 250KgN/ha, primarily dairying
• Free draining limestone geology presents high risk of drought conditions
• Focus on delivery of productive and resilient farming systems with less reliance on nitrogen fertiliser

A light lunch of soup and bread from Acre Bakery will be provided.
Basis Points applied for.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Additional Venue Details:

What3words for Kenton Hall Boardroom (where the presentation will take place): ///passenger.professes.pylons

What3words for entrance drive: ///evoked.buzzards.suitcase

Event venue & nearby stays

Kenton Hall Estate Glamping, Debenham Road, Stowmarket, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

Get the app →

Discover more events by tag