The LEAF Network - 2018 - Amazon S3...LEAF Network Events 1.2.1. Spring and Autumn Events The IFM Field Event took place in May 2018 at Elveden Farms. This was a fantastic opportunity

www.leafuk.org | Twitter: @LEAF_Farming | Facebook: fb.com/LinkingEnvironmentAndFarming LEAF Network News © LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) 2015. Charity No. 1045781

1. LEAF Demonstration Farms

1.1. Current LEAF Demonstration Farms

LEAF currently has 38 Demonstration Farms across England and Scotland. We were thrilled to welcome three new

farms to the network this year.

Blackbird Farming Ltd – a fruit, arable and sheep business in Kent

A.J and C.I Snell – a soft fruit business in Herefordshire

Bowhill Farming Ltd – part of the Buccleuch estate, a large and diverse estate in the Scottish borders.

Blackbird Farming Ltd and A.J and C.I Snell are both long term LEAF Marque certified growers and we are looking

forward to working with all our Demonstration Farms over the coming year to make the most of their expertise.

The LEAF Network - 2018

The LEAF Network consists of LEAF Demonstration Farms, working farms

committed to delivering and promoting sustainable farming practices through

Integrated Farm Management (IFM), and LEAF Innovation Centres - leading

research establishments pioneering new approaches to push forward the

boundaries of IIFM through research and development.

These sites demonstrate IFM to a wide range of groups, through hosting walks

and talks. They also contribute to LEAF resources to help spread technical IFM

expertise. The report below highlights the activities of these sites in 2018 and

their contributions to LEAF as a whole.

Left to Right: Launch of Blackbird Farming, Launch of AJ and CI Snell and Launch of Bowhill Farming

http://www.leafuk.org/


Information on the LEAF

Demonstration Farms is

updated regularly and details on

each can be found here:

https://leafuk.org/farming/leaf-

demonstration-farms

Each Demonstration Farm has

their own LEAF webpage, with

videos, articles and blogs they

have produced. Users are also

able to download a pdf two-

sided information page about

each farm.

1.2. LEAF Network Events

1.2.1. Spring and Autumn Events

The IFM Field Event took place in May 2018 at Elveden Farms. This was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the work

carried out by the LEAF Network as well as getting the LEAF Demonstration Farmers together to promote knowledge

sharing. The theme of the event was “Boosting Business Success through Biodiversity”. Andrew Francis from Elveden

Farms hosted the event and thank you also to Ian Pigott and Jeremy Durrant who spoke on the day, along with

several researchers from LEAF Innovation Centres. The event was well supported with over 65 attendees including

farmers from nine demonstration farms and a further three people from those interested in becoming a

demonstration farm. The farmers also attended a more in-depth farm visit at Elveden the previous day as well as a

dinner in the evening where they heard from Howard Petch CBE. Click here to see a video summarising the day!

Each farm has a two-page information sheet Many of the demonstration farmers have

videos uploaded on to their sites.


https://leafuk.org/farming/leaf-demonstration-farms

https://leafuk.org/farming/leaf-demonstration-farms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqYngnrv5hE


In September, the Autumn Network Event headed to the Scottish borders. The event kicked off with the launch of

Bowhill Farming Ltd. Following this we hosted a dinner where Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive

of SRUC, spoke about some of the research ongoing at SRUC and their engagement with farmers. The following day

we visited Robert Neill at Upper Nisbet Farm. Robert was named both Mixed Farmer of the Year and Farmer of the

Year at the 2017 Farmers Weekly Awards

1.2.2. Film Training

As part of the PLAID project, we have hosted two video training workshops during 2018. The aim of these is to upskill

farmers to share more of their farming story through film as well as visits. Working with Green Shoots, a two-day

film training workshop was provided to demonstration farmers in February at the University of Cambridge. For more

information click here.

Overbury Enterprises hosted a follow-up one day workshop in December. Leading on from these a number of on-

farm videos have been created by John and Helen Renner (Renner Farming), Ralph Grindling (Russel Smith Farm) and

Mark Knight and Zoe Smith (Tangmere Airfield Nurseries Ltd). These videos can be viewed on the Demonstration

Farm profiles on the LEAF website.

Left: John Renner proudly displaying the IFM Wheel at the Bowhill launch event. Right: Packed trailer on the visit round

Upper Nisbet Farm

Left: John Renner and Ralph Grindling getting to grips with editing and right: Susie Emmett inspiring attendees on a sunny

December day at the film training at Overbury.


http://www.plaid-h2020.eu/

https://leafuk.org/news-and-media/leafs-blog/the-power-of-film-to-demonstrate-innovation-and-learnings-on-farm


1.2.3. LEAF Training

We hosted two BASIS ‘Introduction to IFM’ and LEAF Marque Training courses at LEAF Demonstration Farm, E W

Davies Farms Ltd. Both courses were attended by farmers, industry representatives and certification bodies and

participants were invited to sit a BASIS exam at the end of course. We received positive and constructive feedback

from delegates. In April 2019 Overbury Estates will host the next BASIS Introduction to IFM and LEAF Marque

Training course. Click here for details

A number of Demonstration Farms hosted ARTIS training courses days in January and February including Worth

Farms, College Farm, and E W Davies Farms Ltd. LEAF members received a 15% discount to these training courses

and also included a farm tour in the afternoon. We also held a joint LEAF Education and Rothamsted Research event

at Annables Farm, for LEAF Education’s Teenager Engagement Day. The event was attended by LEAF’s Honorary

President, HRH The Countess of Wessex and was a huge success.

1.3. Wider Activities

1.3.1. LEAF Resources

A key part of the LEAF Demonstration Farmers’ contribution to LEAF is through our tools and resources. Two IFM

Bulletins were issued in 2018 the first covering Crop Efficiency and Protection including an article from LEAF

Innovation Centre SRUC and the H2020 project SoLACE for which LEAF Demonstration Farm Elveden Farms assisted.

The second bulletin covered Water Management and included articles from LEAF Demonstration Farm, Cambs Farm

Growers and new LEAF Innovation Centre NIAB EMR. Farmers have also contributed to various blogs throughout the

year.

1.3.2. Talks

We regularly ask our farmers to speak at LEAF and other industry events. In 2018, a number of LEAF Demonstration

Farmers spoke at the IFM Field Event, and Barfoots and G’s also spoke at the LEAF Marque Summit. In addition to

those organised by LEAF, LEAF Demonstration Farmers spoke at a total of 67 events.

LEAF Education’s Teenager Engagement Day attended

by HRH The Countess of Wessex at Annables Farm

E W Davies Farms Ltd hosted the LEAF Marque

training in April and September.


https://leafuk.org/news-and-media/events/ifm-basis-and-leaf-marque-training-2


1.3.3. Environment Agency Placement Scheme

Two farmers hosted five day placements to EA officers on their farm. The scheme has helped to share knowledge

and foster relationships between the EA and LEAF as well as farming in general. The scheme was a success with EA

officers who gained valuable experience, skills and contacts. The LEAF Demonstration Farmers involved enjoyed

hosting enthusiastic officers and sharing their practices. Nine placements are planned in 2019.

1.4. Visitor Figures

A key role of LEAF Demonstration Farms’ is to host visits to farmers and a wide range of others. Some of these visits

are organised through the LEAF office but the majority are arranged by the farmers themselves. At the end of each

year, demonstration farmers send their visitor books back which detail the total number of visits and visitors they

have hosted that year. A huge thank you to everyone who has hosted such inspiring and stimulating visits. Visitor

figures for 2018 are given below. 2017 figures are also included for a comparison and great to see all figures are up!

1.4.1. Visitor Numbers and Feedback

1.4.2. Visitor Feedback and Highlights

We are keen to get as much feedback as possible from those visiting LEAF Demonstration Farmers to ensure

consistent messages are going into the industry and to enable us to better support LEAF Demonstration Farmers if

required. However, receiving regular feedback is a challenge! Below is a summary of feedback received from 12 visits

that were organized through the LEAF office.

Question Average Score (out of 5)

How satisfied were you with the overall farm visit? 4.9

How much did your group learn about sustainable food production? 4.6

How much did your group enjoy the visit? 4.8

How likely are you to recommend visiting this farm to others? 4.6

How likely are you/members of your group to do something differently as a result of this visit?

4.0

2017 2018 # visits hosted by LEAF Demonstration Farmers 373 419 # farmers who visited a LEAF Demonstration Farm 1,372 2,021 # schoolchildren who visited a LEAF Demonstration Farm 2,306 2,676

# agricultural college/university students who visited a LEAF Demonstration Farm

628 764

# politicians/government representatives who visited a LEAF Demonstration Farm

78 189

# community group members who visited a LEAF Demonstration Farm

1,395 1,177

# industry representatives who visited a LEAF Demonstration Farm

912 1,573

Total # visitors to LEAF Demonstration Farms excluding Open Farm Sunday visitors

11,579 12,578

# talks given by LEAF Demonstration Farmers 53 67

# people who attended talks given by LEAF Demonstration Farmers

1,987 5,398

# farmers who attended talks given by LEAF Demonstration Farmers

620 1,013



LEAF Innovation Centres

2.1. Current LEAF Innovation Centres

2018 saw the launch of two new LEAF Innovation Centres, University of Reading Centre for Dairy Research (CEDAR)

and NIAB East Malling Research (NIAB EMR) bringing the current total to 11.

Individuals from four of the LEAF Innovation Centres spoke at the IFM Field Event to share some areas of their

research. We were also pleased to welcome two to the Autumn LEAF Network Event as well as a talk from SRUC at

LEAF Autumn Network dinner. Two representatives from LEAF Innovation Centres also attended the Making the

Most of Film event at Overbury in December 2018.

2.2. Projects and Research

2.2.1. Horizon 2020

LEAF is currently a partner in four European Horizon 2020 projects focusing on a range of topics, from on-farm

demonstration to crop diversification and water and nutrient stress in potatoes. There are a wide range of project

partners including LEAF Innovation Centres: The James Hutton Institute and Stockbridge Technology Centre.

As part of these projects we have been able to work with a number of LEAF Demonstration Farms throughout the

year. As part of the PLAID (Peer-to-peer Learning And In-field Demonstration) project (http://www.plaid-h2020.eu/)

we are looking at ways to increase “virtual demonstration” through film. We hosted two video training sessions

during the year and leading on from these, a number of on-farm videos have been created by Demonstration

Farmers. There have also been opportunities to attend workshops and meetings across Europe as part of these

projects with John and Helen Renner attending a three-day stakeholder workshop and video training in Croatia and

John Renner and Mark Knight attending a stakeholder workshop in Brussels - both part of PLAID. Their expertise and

experiences are helping to shape project activities and outcomes.

The LEAF IFM Field Event was also featured as a PLAID case study to help determine what makes demonstration

successful. This case study, combined with 25 other European examples is currently being analysed to produce

recommendations to policy and organisers of demonstration events in the Netherlands in April 2019.

Launch of two new LEAF Innovation Centres – NIAB EMR (Left) and CEDAR (Right)


http://www.plaid-h2020.eu/


As part of the SolACE project, Elveden Estates hosted a

potato workshop, focusing on the issues farmers are facing

in potato production. Outcomes from this workshop will

feed into farmer trials as part of the project.

For more information on the DIVERSify and Diver IMPACTS

project visit https://www.plant-teams.eu/ and

http://www.diverimpacts.net/

2.2.2. Agri EPI

Seven LEAF Demonstration Farmers are continuing to work with the Agri EPI centre headed up by SRUC, Harper

Adams and Cranfield. All have had significant investment in connectivity and precision farming equipment and are

taking an active role in a number of projects.

2.2.3. Soil Health

LEAF hosted two student placements in 2018 from Cranfield and Reading. Sam Brook joined us for three months

from the University of Reading to investigate a range of soil health measures and how the LEAF Marque could

encourage greater uptake of these. Sam used data from the LEAF Sustainable Farming Review, a questionnaire and

visited a number of LEAF Demonstration Farmers to investigate visual soil assessments, earthworms and erosion

tests. Feedback from this project has now been used to develop a new control point in version 15 of the LEAF

Marque Standard that has been out for consultation. Read more here.

For more information on LEAF Demonstration Farms visit: www.leafuk.org/leaf/farmers/demofarm.eb.

For more information on LEAF Innovation Centres visit: www.leafuk.org/leaf/farmers/innovation_centres.eb.

Farm tour of Elveden Estates as part of the potato workshop


http://www.solace-eu.net/about.html

https://www.plant-teams.eu/

http://www.diverimpacts.net/

https://www.agri-epicentre.com/

https://leafuk.org/news-and-media/leafs-blog/soil-health-the-how-the-why-and-future-directions

http://www.leafuk.org/leaf/farmers/demofarm.eb

http://www.leafuk.org/leaf/farmers/innovation_centres.eb


Appendix

LEAF Demonstration Farms

AJ & CI Snell Anthony Snell Herefordshire

Addicott Partners Robert Addicott Somerset

Barfoots of Botley Nathan Dellicott W. Sussex

Blackbird Farming Mark Bowsher-Gibbs Kent

Bottom Farm Duncan Farrington Northants

Bowhill Farming Sion Williams Selkirk

New Forest Fruit Company Jackie Barr Hampshire

Carroll's Heritage Potatoes Anthony Carroll Northumberland

Church Farm Jeremy Padfield Somerset

Crowmarsh Battle Farms Ltd Philip Chamberlain Oxfordshire

E Dunning & Son Paul Hayward East Yorkshire

E J Barker & Sons Brian and Patrick Barker Suffolk

Elveden Farms Ltd Andrew Francis Norfolk

Eric Wall Ltd (Pollards Nursery) Paul Faulkner West Sussex

E W Davies Farms Ltd Jeremy Durrant Essex

Frogmary Green Farm Nick and Claire Bragg Somerset

Gilston Matt Waldie Fife

Great Wollaston Robert Kynaston Shropshire

G's Marketing Charles Shropshire Cambridgeshire

Hampden Bottom Farm Ltd Ian Waller Buckinghamshire

J W Pigott & Son Ian Pigott Hertfordshire

JSR Farms Ltd Philip Huxtable E Yorkshire

Leckford Estate Ltd Andrew Ferguson Hampshire

Man of Ross Ltd Andrew Jackson Herefordshire

Morriston Farms David Kennedy Ayrshire

Overbury Enterprises Jake Freestone Gloucestershire

P N Broad & Son Hugh Broad East Lothian

Ragley Hall Farm Hamish Stewart Warwickshire

R P Tilt & Son Nicholas Tilt Shropshire

R. C. Felce & Son David Felce Cambridgeshire

Renner Farming John and Helen Renner Northumberland

Russell Smith Farms Ltd Ralph Grindling Cambridgeshire

Silton Manor Farming Keith Harris Dorset

Sir Richard Sutton Estates Ltd Chris Baylis Lincolnshire

Tangmere Airfield Nurseries Ltd Mark Knight West Sussex

Worth Farms Simon Day Lincolnshire

Wantisden Hall Farms Tim Pratt Suffolk

Wilkin & Sons Ltd Chris Newenham Essex



LEAF Innovation Centres

The Allerton Project Alastair Leake Leicestershire

Bangor University Prysor Williams Gwynedd

Bayer Philip Hartley Cambridgeshire

CEDAR University of Reading Chris Reynolds Berkshire

Harper Adams University Martin Hare Shropshire

James Hutton Institute Geoff Squire Perthshire

NIAB EMR Ross Newham Kent

Rothamsted Research North Wyke Melanie Wright Devon

Royal Agricultural University Nicola Cannon Gloucestershire

SRUC Crichton Royal David Roberts Dumfries & Galloway

Stockbridge Technology Centre Julian Davies Yorkshire


The LEAF Network - 2018 - Amazon S3...LEAF Network Events 1.2.1. Spring and Autumn Events The IFM Field Event took place in May 2018 at Elveden Farms. This was a fantastic opportunity

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