Farming circa. 2000 acres of arable, grass and woodland a delicate balance is maintained at Thirsk Hall Farms between ensuring that our countryside management meets the needs of modern agricultural production while retaining lands unique historical character and landscape.
Arable
Our arable operations form the basis of our business. We are now on the road to establishing a regenerative farming system, looking carefully at our soil health and rotation strategy. In 2022 we introduced cover crops to our rotation, reducing soil erosion, preventing nutrient loss and leaching and ultimately improving our soil structure.
Cultivation strategy plays an important part of soil health, recent investments include a min-till cultivator running in front of our Vaderstad Rapid. While we haven’t ‘scrapped’ the plough, it is used on a reactionary basis rather than a regular one. Utilising vari-rate applications in both the drilling of our crops and with fertiliser we will further reduce our footprint.
Our main crops on the Farm are Oil Seed Rape, Winter Wheat, Winter Barley and Spring beans. You will also see some carrots being grown and maize. In 2019 we removed potatoes from the rotation as a precaution against soil damage.
Livestock
In 2016 the farm invested in a small suckler herd of Montbeliarde x Aberdeen Angus cattle and now run Angus and Limousin bulls in with them. We now have 70 head on the farm along with their offspring. We are, predominantly, a grass fed system but mill our own barley for the fattening process.
Alongside the cattle, we also run a small flock of Jacob Sheep, grazing outside most of the year. The sheep follow the cattle in our grass sytem and then in the winter are put on our cover crops. This system has multiple benefits for the soil, reducing the need for artificial fertilisers and using less herbicides.
The livestock provide an important role in our journey towards the regenerative system with their ‘muck’ subsidising the use of artificial fertiliser and a potential reduction in herbicide use from grazing. With the development of Manor Farm Hotel and Kitchen there are also plans to bring poultry and pigs onto the farm. This will allow us to supply the restaurant and catering business – a farm to fork strategy of less than 2 miles.
Community
Across the farm we have a mixture of almost 6 miles of bridleways and footpaths. The farm plans to hold Open Farm Sunday’s in the near future and will also launch a Farm Walk series, allowing individuals interested in farming and the countryside a closer, in depth, look at the farm. Please see our shop section for more information in the above and to register interest.
Woodland
Thirsk Hall Farms are passionate about managing Woodland, habitat and biodiversity creating a sustainable and balanced environment.
Our strategic management plan & ‘Positive Impact Report – 300 years’ is designed to create greater biodiversity, a better and more balanced habitat and a resilient income for the Estate.
The Estate owns and manages approximately 150 acres of woodlands and over 30 miles of hedgerows. These hedgerows all have a margin of at least 2 metres (some running to 6 metres) buffering them against the arable fields and necessary agricultural production. These ‘wildlife corridors’ are vital for habitat and biodiversity. In all, these margins take up some 30 acres of the farm.
We also have over 90 acres of wild bird food and flower rich plots, herbal lays and low input permanent pasture. These are fundamental to our strategy of increasing our wildlife health and diversity.
Habitat and Biodiversity
We are always trying to improve the habitat and biodiversity on the farm…
In 2023 we planted Kings Wood, taking 25 acres of poor arable land out of production and planting 18,500 trees. Species include: Oak, beech, birch, lime, walnut, rowan, cherry, crab apple, aspen; Scots pine and Douglas fir; Hazel, hawthorne, blackthorne, dogwood, elder, spindle, dog rose. The project was completed using the DEFRA ‘Trees for Climate’ initiative and administered through the White Rose Forest scheme.
We look carefully at all our farmed land, its productivity and future potential. Moving forward our aim is to be able to continue to produce food but, now, more in unison with our natural capital.
With this is mind, over the next few years, the Estate will be opening our doors (or rather gates) to the local community and other interested groups. Through the initiative of Open Farm Sunday and Farm Walks we hope to demonstrate our commitment to the land we are custodians of.