The Norfolk Farming Conference took place at the Norfolk Showground on 30th November 2022. The event was run by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and over 400 farmers and industry professionals attended the event. The day included talks and discussion on trade, in relation to the rising costs being experienced, water use and flood mitigation, and farming carbon and the government’s Environmental Land Management Schemes.
Some of the key topics highlighted at the conference were environmental protection and sustainable agriculture. Case studies from local farms, which included talks from Nick Padwick of Wild Ken Hill, James Beamish of Holkham Farming Company and John Pawsey of Shimpling Farm Park demonstrated the work that is happening to conserve wildlife, reduce pollution and importantly improve soils in Norfolk!
Hear more below from Nick Padwick of Wild Ken Hill. Wild Ken Hill is a restoration and regenerative farming project in Norfolk that works by returning land to nature, whilst farming sustainably in coastal west Norfolk. The aim is to increase biodiversity at the site, whilst improving soil health allowing more carbon to be stored within it. About 25% of the site is being rewilded, allowing ponies, cattle and even beavers to manage the landscape.
Hear more below from James Beamish of Holkham Farming Company. Based on the outskirts of Wells-nest-the-Sea, the Holkham Farming Company covers almost 4000 hectares and is managed with conservation in mind. A variety of crops is grown on the land in roation, including sugarbeet, wheat and peas, whilst sheep and cattle have been introduced to graze cover crops.
Hear more from John Pawsey of Shimpling Park Farm below. Shimpling Park Farm operate an entirely organic system and are working to carry out landscape restoration to improve soil health and biodiversity out on farm. In 2014, the farm introduced Romney Sheep to recycle nutrients and help manage the landscape.