Contents

1.                     Introduction

Horseley is situated  approximately 5km west of the village of Reston in Berwickshire.  The farm has been in the family since around 1870.

In general, the farm has a northerly aspect, occupying as it does, the northern side of Horseley Hill. The ground slopes down to Brockholes burn on the northern march and the main east coast mainline/A1 corridor to the east. Heights range from 260m above sea level by Horseley Hill, down to approximately 80m next to the Eye Water in the south eats corner of the farm.

The land is mostly Class 4 and the main enterprises are the sheep flock of 1000 half-bred ewes and arable crops consisting of approximately 30ha of Wheat and 100Ha of Spring Barley. The lambs leave the farm finished and to this end, approximately 14ha of fodder rape is grown as winter feed. Additionally, 46 cows and followers are kept with stock leaving the farm finished.

The farm landscape is outlined by numerous drystone dykes and a number of small plantations have been established over the years. The northern corner of the farm contains a small area of semi  natural woodland along the steep sides of Brockholes Dean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Horseley

This farm plan was carried out under FMD precautions so fields containing stock were not entered. However, most of the habitats were able to be looked at in some detail.

Contents

2.                     Objective

The objective of this Conservation Plan is to highlight the inherent conservation value of the whole farm by looking in turn at each habitat and drawing attention to it’s importance for all manner of wildlife. The plan sets out to indicate where and how these habitats and farm operations might be enhanced, and, where this would incur a financial outlay, suggest means of financial assistance such as agri-environment schemes. The recommendations and advice are given with the full understanding that the farm business must remain financially viable.

Through this plan, it is our aim that some of the measures suggested herein will go some way to addressing the goals set out in the Biodiversity Action Plan for Grey Partridges and hopefully see some sort of improvement in their numbers in the near future.

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3.                     Workguide   Refer to Management Map for Site N^os.

Site No.	Operations	Possible Grant Source	3	z
1	Gap-up existing hedge	RSS/BTGS
2	Coppice & replant old hedge	RSS/BTGS
3	Establish new hedges	RSS/BTGS
4	Future management: Fell & Replant with broadleaves	FC
5	Clear standing timber & wind-blow; replant with broadleaves.	FC
6	Plant individual landscape trees	BTGS
7	Maintain margins by dyke-back			z
8	Establish Beetlebanks/grass margins	RSS
9	Establish Conservation Headlands	RSS
10	Fence off water margins an plant small number of water-side trees	RSS
11	Re-instate farm pond	RSS/SNH
12	Create new pond/wetland area	RSS
13	Manage set-aside for wildlife			z
14	Manage species rich grassland	RSS
15	Maintain dykes in present good condition	RSS
Whole Farm	Predator control and supplementary feeding			z
16	Leave dead/decaying timber as insect habitat.			z
17	Establish Game cover/Unharvested Crop	RSS
18	New amenity woodland	FC/BTGS

 

3        -  Work Done

z        -  Zero Budget

RSS               Rural Stewardship Scheme       SNH     Scottish Natural Heritage

BTGS            Borders Tree Grant Scheme

FC                 Forestry Commission Woodland Grant Scheme/

                      Farm Woodland Premium Scheme