Patrick Godwin
Patrick Godwin
Patrick Godwin is farm
manager for the 930ha
(2300 acre) Lee Farm
Partnership, Angmering
Estate, West Sussex. Soils
are chalk-based with
combinable winter and
spring crops occupying
525ha (1300 acres).
SEPTEMBER-DRILLED wheat looks well and with 195ha (480 acres) drilled the end to the autumn drilling rush is in sight.
All that is left is 23ha (57 acres) of Soissons and 24 ha (59 acres) of in-conversion Triticale left to go.
It is rare for us to suffer from slugs and consequently we would not normally carry any pellets in the store. But I spotted the tell-tale signs of damage in some Savannah following oilseed rape a fortnight ago, while walking the dogs one Saturday. Problems with delivery and the weather meant it was Friday before we could get any pellets on. The following weekend gave us almost 40mm (1.6in) of rain, but the ESP pellets survived the deluge and the wheat is now growing away from the damage.
The farm has been involved with the Game Conservancy for many years, particularly with Dick Potts and the Grey Partridge projects. Anyone interested in the countryside should be grateful to the Game Conservancy and their work to promote that time-honoured link between farming and wildlife. Dick and his colleagues have spent many hours in the field over the past 30 years, bringing good science and argument back to the negotiating table with those in power.
We should all support their efforts, especially as the change in agricultural support moves towards a more environmentally based system. The work of the Conservancy will become more significant and Arable Stewardship Schemes and others like them need to be based on sound science and practical ideas.
Good luck to the retiring director Dick Potts and congratulations to Teresa Dent, Dicks successor. Dick is to continue with his work on the Grey Partridge projects here on the South Downs. He began 35 years ago and has been monitoring their populations annually. Sadly he has been observing a marked decline over the years but with his help, advice and sensible government policy we may yet see the return of the grey partridge here. *
Do you support the Game Conservancy? Patrick Godwin believes its work is increasingly important.