Gentle Farming, England
Nature Recovery Project
Overview
2.8 hectares of nature recovery
0.52 hectares: natural recovery of land previously farmed for arable
0.24 hectares: expansion of existing woodland
0.67 hectares: maintenance of land that has been naturally regenerated for 20+ years
1.35 hectares: maintenance of land that has been naturally regenerated for 50+ years
19-23 tonnes carbon capture per year*
Our estimates calculate that the average annual carbon capture over the next 5 years on this 2.8 hectares nature recovery project will be between 19 and 23 tonnes.
*Estimate based on average above ground biomass carbon capture estimates in the UK.
Our partners at Gentle Farming share a similar vision to ours: providing food whilst providing nature are important parts of modern agriculture.
Farmers are well positioned and experienced as custodians of land in the UK for both food production and nature services provision.
The 800 hectare farm, run by third generation farmer Thomas Gent and his father, Edward, is one of the most progressive when it comes to regenerative farming in the UK.
Based in South Lincolnshire, the farm transitioned to a fully regenerative system 16 years ago. This means that they all of their farming practices aim to minimise soil distrubance, lower the non-natural inputs into the land, maximise soil cover, and leave space for nature where they can.
Your TreeTop subscription will fund the expansion and maintenance of 2.8 hectares of land on the farm (see map below).
TreeTop Nature Recovery Areas
The project’s nature recovery plots are highlighted in green on the map below.
Nature Recovery Plans
Woodland Expansion
Some parts of the farm are woodland areas that have been regenerating for several years. These woodlands contain a range of broadleaf natives and some coniferous species (mostly elder but also rarer species such as copper beech and spruce).
Your TreeTop subscription allows the Gentle Farming team to expand the margins of these woodlands. This means the vegetation in these margins will not be mowed or farmed, and left for the trees in the woodland to recolonise. After a few years we expect some saplings to have taken hold for natural woodland regeneration to have started.
New natural regeneration
Other areas are - simply put - very difficult to farm! As you can see, being pinned between a private property and a road, triangles of land exist where large agricultural machinery can’t get in to plant crops or harvest, and can only be cut by smaller vehicles.
Your TreeTop subscription means this land will no longer be cut. The trees and shrubs you can see at the sides of the plot near the road will start to distribute further across the area as seedlings and saplings are no longer mown. The land will be left for vegetation to take back control. It’s end state should take the form a full broadleaf woodland - a larger and more mature version of what you can see here today.
More about your subscription
You fund this nature recovery project along with 14 other TreeTop subscribers
You have exclusive access to this subscriber page and as well the content and updates that are captured on the land
The Gentle Farming team would love you have you visit and would be happy to show you around the nature recovery plots. Keep and eye out for upcoming dates where you can book a tour (see section below)
Over the next few months we will install a camera trap on one of the plots and share any content we capture with you as we get it
We will notify you of any updates from the land as it progresses on it’s recovery journey on a regular basis. So keep your eyes peeled for more photos, videos, dronescapes, sounds, species spottings…
Photos from the recovering areas
Upcoming events
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Autumn Tour
Date TBC
A tour from the Gentle Farming team around the nature recovery plots you are funding.
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Winter Tour
Date TBC
A tour from the Gentle Farming team around the nature recovery plots you are funding.
Contact us
Let us know if you have any feedback or requests and we’ll get back in touch.