Field trip notes: Visit to Gutchpool farm

On the 3rd September, a group of about 15 members visited Rachel Hall at Gutchpool Farm, Gillingham.

After an introduction to the farm’s history and the management changes that Rachel had carried out since taking charge, about 10 years ago, we were taken on a walk to see for ourselves.

The first thing that is striking is the variety of habitats that have been created. Firstly, a beautiful stream, lined with alders and willows is crossed, leading to a newly created wetland corridor in a grassy field. The corridor has been re-created using old maps and LIDAR remote sensing so that instead of water run off from the top of the farm rushing through large drains into the river, it now gently meanders its way above ground, getting caught up in woody obstacles and long grass until it eventually emerges into a small pond. Only then is it allowed into the stream, without causing a flood.

In the next field, Rachel has planted wide rows of trees in lines separated from each other by wide strips of grass. This agro-forestry benefits the sheep that Rachel farms, giving them shade and leaves to eat, in addition to the usual grass. Rachel explained how the tree leaves have medicinal properties and help keep the sheep healthy by natural means.

Just beyond was a spring-sown ‘herbal ley’, which is a planted mixture of grasses and herbs such as plantain, chicory, birds-foot trefoil and several clovers. Despite the drought, and very little rain since sowing, the herbage was growing really well.

The contrast between the arable farming just 10 years ago and Rachel’s regenerative methods of farming is transformative for the soil. The sown herbs are deep rooted, helping drainage and leading to the build-up of organic material.

Next, we walked through a surviving part of the ‘Park Pale’; a bank and ditch enclosure surrounding what used to be the royal deer park of Kings Court. This remarkable survivor features rare flowers and many old and veteran trees, a brilliant corridor for wildlife.

Approaching the top of the farm, we stopped to admire the expansive views towards Alfred’s Tower and Silton. The field here is the most difficult to farm, with deep sticky clay, ruined by arable farming, with the topsoil ploughed under. Rachel has had success establishing another herbal ley and already the soil is improving. Future plans include reinstating more hedges to create more wildlife habitat, as well as making it easier to graze the sheep.

As we started to return, we talked about the several ponds which are home to Great-Crested Newts and many other species of birds and animals. Finally, we passed through a path with young trees on either side, which soon become a small copse, creating more wildlife habitat.

As the light faded, we all sat down to tea or coffee and ate home-made cakes Rachel had baked and had a lively discussion about the problems of modern farming and solutions, as demonstrated to us.
Thank you, Rachel, for an engaging and fascinating afternoon.

​Peter Shallcross