Brooklands – Fordingbridge
Daniel and Sam Burden run Brooklands Farm, near Fordingbridge. They farm beef on their 80 acres of grass land to the west of the New Forest.
Better habitats for wildlife
Their inspiration is to reduce their carbon footprint and provide bigger, better, more joined-up habitats for wildlife. Tree and hedgerow planting has also helped to store carbon and, alongside new wildflower areas, will help wildlife flourish.
Daniel and Sam Burden said: ‘We’re aware of the role that farmers can play in helping to tackle climate change and this project will be a large step forward for our farm. It will help to make reductions in the energy and carbon footprint of the farm, allow us to manage the water resource efficiently, to supply all farm buildings with off-grid power and to plant and incorporate new habitats for wildlife within the farming practice. We’re making great progress already and are really excited to be making strides towards making the farm more resilient to climate change and enabling wildlife to thrive. If you’re thinking of doing the same get plenty of impartial advice and be realistic on how much work can be done in the allotted time. The help available from the New Forest Land Advice Service was of huge benefit.’
Energy saving
Installation of solar panels will supply power to the farm buildings. It will help save the farm and future tenants potentially thousands of pounds every year in energy costs. Daniel and Sam believe they are doing their bit to help Hampshire County Council’s County Farms become carbon neutral across their farm holdings.
Rainwater harvesting
The installation of a rainwater harvesting system will collect thousands of litres of rainwater to be used for cattle drinkers and reduce flood risk. Tree and hedgerow planting has also helped to store carbon and, alongside new wildflower areas, will help wildlife flourish.