Host farm has to live with too much water…
Host farm has to live with too much water…
HOST farmers for the ADA 2000 event at Newstead Farm, Stixwould, two miles north of Woodhall Spa, off the B1192 road (see how to get there on map), are D C Hoyes and Sons.
Denis Hoyes and his sons, David and Paul, run the 400ha (1000-acre) Newstead Farm in conjunction with other land, including Grange Farm, Stixwould. Mr Denis Hoyes and son Paul are elected members of the Witham Third District IDB and Mr Hoyes senior also serves on the Environment Agency local and regional flood defence committees.
He says: "Over half our acreage at Newstead Farm is dependent on pump drainage and we are also licensed to abstract 12m gallons to irrigate 100 acres of potatoes in summer. We have installed 1.5 miles of underground main to distribute irrigation water."
Their all-arable system includes wheat, barley, oil seed rape, sugar beet, potatoes and vining peas and yields depend on the ability to control the height of the water table. The ideal is to keep the water table low in winter and higher in summer to meet the requirements of thirsty cash crops.
The Hoyes will be equally interested in comparing the efficiency of flail hedge mowers at the ADA 2000 Demonstration for they have "miles of mature hedges dating back to the field Enclosure Acts."
Denis Hoyes says: "Our land was laid out originally in 30 to 40- acre fields so there was no need for hedge removal. The result is that many of our hedges, which are a prized feature of the landscape, are now about 200 years old and we have a vested interest in keeping them in first class condition. We are keen on preserving local wildlife wherever possible and that includes kingfishers and barn owls on our own patch."
Attractions during the two day ADA 2000 Event will include major and minor waterway improvements, with the 60m wide River Witham offering ample opportunity for the largest equipment to be put through its paces. A range of working demonstrations will include flail mowing, weed cutting and harvesting, bank piling and revetment and irrigation equipment and control.
Vintage attractions include the adjoining Stixwould pumping station with two sets of paired, horizontal Ruston diesel engines, still in full working order. Installed back in 1936, these pumps are still capable of handling the floodwater from 3330ha (8000 acres). They are ready to go in an emergency and when electricity power is cut off.
The Association of Drainage Authorities is not without influence and, given clear conditions, the Red Arrows flying team, based at Scampton, Lincs, will fly over/past the event. The air show will include the equally impressive ,and nostalgic, Coningsby based, Battle of Britain Memorial Flying Team, comprising a Spitfire and Hurricane fighter and a Lancaster bomber.
Event host farmer Denis Hoyes (right) and son Paul. More than half their 400ha (1000-acre) Newstead Farm is dependent on pumps to control the water table.