Cothelstone Micro-Dairy

Phyllida Warmington is a tenant farmer on an Organic estate in the south-west corner of the Quantock Hills National Landscape. Phyllida was developing a new micro-dairy enterprise and approached the FiPL team for support with some costs, including equipment as well as grassland and silvopasture creation.

The project was designed to deliver multiple benefits: firstly, to promote the health and welfare of the cows, by ensuring that each grazing parcel has ample shelter and diversity of forage. Secondly, to enhance the biodiversity of the site, by reverting an arable field to grassland and further by creating silvopasture across half the area. Finally, to improve soil structure, pasture productivity, and resilience to drought and heavy rainfall by establishing a rotational grazing system and employing deep rooting ley and tree species.

The initial design of the project underwent several changes, and Phyll sought input from a trusted FWAG SW advisor to select a diverse selection of tree species that were suitable for the ground conditions, palatable and nourishing to cattle, and that would also provide plentiful windfall fruit and nuts for wildlife. Katie Read (FiPL Officer) also worked closely with Phyll to plan the tree planting so as to create 30 grazing parcels bounded by the trees, as well as to ensure that public access to the farm via an existing footpath would not be impeded by the project. In fact, Phyll has embraced community engagement with her project. She sells raw milk direct to consumers at the farm gate, and also operates an ‘open-gate’ policy, encouraging people to visit and learn about high-welfare sustainable milk production.

FiPL supported some essential equipment, such as a milking machine and a flexible electric fencing system to enable the grazing scheme. FiPL also funded the costs of establishing new grassland, and of planting and guarding more than 800 trees to create silvopasture across 4.8ha.

Silvopasture just means ‘forest-pasture’ and refers to grassland featuring abundant trees, albeit at a low enough density that grassland plants are not shaded out and prevented from growing. A well-managed silvopasture can increase pasture productivity, extend the grass growing season, and produce forage of higher nutritive quality than grassland-only pastures. The benefits extend to improving animal health and welfare: the trees provide shade in the summer and windbreaks in the winter, ensuring livestock can moderate their own temperature and are less likely to suffer ill effects associated with heat stress. Silvopasture has also been found to increase wildlife abundance and diversity, especially for species that specialise in transitional habitats.