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Download PDF With productive soils that capture carbon, the Southill Estate in Beds has turned its focus to reducing N inputs. CPM visits to gauge the driving force behind the changes. We’re already carbon negative on land on which we’re also growing food. By Tom Allen-Stevens There are two aspects that stand out about Mike Purnell’s rye crop as you step into it: the first is that the crop rows are interspersed with clover. The second is that there’s not a puddle to be seen, after a night of heavy rain in mid Jan. Littered with wormcasts, the ground feels strangely firm underfoot for the time of year. “What we’ve focused on is soil health,” Mike explains. “We don’t cultivate, have plenty of different crops in the rotation and aim to keep living roots in the soil for as much of the year as possible. The result is that we’re already carbon negative on land on which we’re also growing food.” His enthusiasm is for a regenerative agriculture system that’s been carefully shaped over 17 years. Ever since Charles Whitbread became the custodian of the 4500ha Southill Estate, near Biggleswade in Beds, he’s led a revolution that has seen…
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