Coximus
Member
Looking for anyones experience, Ive been approached by two companies now regarding offsetting associated with nearby housing developments (on separate fields ) - One hasnt made any offer yet the other is offering £23k/ha upfront and £950/ha for 30 years linked to inflation - 0.5% with a 5% cap (ironic given the 5% cap would of seemed attractive last year, less so this year).
Has anyone else done it?
So far the basics are pretty simple - no improvement of the land, IE no new drainage, Lime or fertilizer.
Max one herbicide application per 5 year period, requiring justification IE overwhelming thistle or rush issue.
Grazing to be "prescribed" IE no grazing march to end of June, Hay can be cut once every 3rd year (field hasnt been cut for 40 years but could be).
Looks like the aim is basically a form of minimum management with grazing to gradually depelete PK reserves and to manage grass while allowing around 40 to 50 trees per HA to grow, and the grassland to revert to a form of rough pasture or a wildflower meadow.
Has anyone any experience of how these go? Obvisouly rough pasture and cutting meadows are less productive but still have a vital spot to play in farming, combined with a system paying 4x BPS rates to support farming going forwards for 30 years the appeal is strong, but obvisouly if there likely to become another BS BS /ER type save the world with thistles type of scam that wrecks the land, then Im obviously out for the count and ringing the lime man tomorrow!
Has anyone else done it?
So far the basics are pretty simple - no improvement of the land, IE no new drainage, Lime or fertilizer.
Max one herbicide application per 5 year period, requiring justification IE overwhelming thistle or rush issue.
Grazing to be "prescribed" IE no grazing march to end of June, Hay can be cut once every 3rd year (field hasnt been cut for 40 years but could be).
Looks like the aim is basically a form of minimum management with grazing to gradually depelete PK reserves and to manage grass while allowing around 40 to 50 trees per HA to grow, and the grassland to revert to a form of rough pasture or a wildflower meadow.
Has anyone any experience of how these go? Obvisouly rough pasture and cutting meadows are less productive but still have a vital spot to play in farming, combined with a system paying 4x BPS rates to support farming going forwards for 30 years the appeal is strong, but obvisouly if there likely to become another BS BS /ER type save the world with thistles type of scam that wrecks the land, then Im obviously out for the count and ringing the lime man tomorrow!