HOME FARM

For the first time in a generation, Alscot Estate has the opportunity to consider its long term land use strategy. This comes at a time where the agricultural transition in England, alongside a broader political agenda of tackling environmental crises, means that rural land management is now focused not only on quality food production, but also on environmental provision and social value.

As a result, Alscot’s ambition is to farm in a regenerative manner, and in September 2024, we began farming regeneratively for the first time in decades, on our 715 hectare “home farm” site.

In its broadest terms, regenerative agriculture refers to an approach that seeks to work with natural systems to restore and enhance the biodiversity, soil fertility and ecosystem service provision (such as carbon sequestration and water retention) of farmed land.

Regenerative agriculture aims to reverse the degradation of soils, focusing on rebuilding soil organic matter (SOM). Minimising soil disturbance and building up soil organic matter fixes carbon within the soil. Under regenerative models, as soils increase in fertility their water holding capacity also increases, thereby building the natural, biological productivity of the land and encouraging species growth. On the other hand, if land is intensively cultivated, it releases carbon into the atmosphere and water run-off is more frequent. Regenerative agriculture is, therefore, being proposed as a key solution to feeding growing populations, while also tackling climate change and the increasing environmental risk.

In June 2024 we introduced our regenerative and organic farming ambitions to the local Alscot community. Guests were invited to a local cinema for a private screeing of the acclaimed film, Six Inches of Soil, by Dragonlight Films. The event was well attended and recieved. Joined by the film Director, Colin Ramsay, Estate CEO, Emma Holman-West and Alscot’s regenerative farming specialists, the audience participated in a Q&A session.

See a short video HERE.