Some 2,800 acres of the Trimley Estate is dedicated to farming and is largely focused on root vegetables like potato and onion and combinable crops of such things as wheat, barley and oil seed rape. In addition, the farm produces vining peas, brassica crops and sugar beet. The vegetable crops are sold through most of the major supermarket chains, and some local farm shops, whilst the combinable crops are grown for many end users but produce malt for human consumption, bread and biscuit flour, cooking oils and animal feeds.
The team manage the estate carefully, balancing the requirements of a large agricultural farm with the need to conserve diverse local ecosystems.
We sample our soil on a rolling four-year cycle to know what condition it is in, but more importantly like any good gardener, we try to build the levels of the soil humus and protect the soil micro-organisms. These – in turn – help the surrounding diverse ecosystems to flourish, as well as our crops.
We apply green waste compost from kerbside collections, public parks and gardensto ensure the soil quality remains high. We also use the by-product of anaerobic energy (AD) plants (called digestate) which are rich in phosphate and potash - two of the major nutrients that plants need. Cover crops additionally allow us to help improve local soil quality whilst also providing habitats for birds and insects.
Across the estate, there are many small areas of fallow land which have been rewilding for many years, supporting natural local habitats. They might be small areas, but they add up to 40 ha (100 acres) – the size of fifty football pitches.
We also have two on-farm reservoirs to allow us to manage better in the extremes of weather, whilst also providing a further series of habitats.
Together, our knowledgeable farming team ensure that we can continue putting food into local and national markets, as well as playing a key role in maintaining natural habitats and other ecosystem services.
Our farming occupiers are:
Searsons Farm: Walton Farms Ltd c/o James Wood and David Watson, Bidwells Cambridge, a wholly owned Trinity College company, with Home Farm Nacton as farming contractor
Innocence Farm: A W Mayhew & Sons (Farms) Ltd