How we Farm
Earth Trust Farm is uniquely positioned to demonstrate how farming can meet multiple needs in our changing landscape. As managers of significant farmland in Oxfordshire, we have the opportunity to demonstrate how agriculture can balance profitability with environmental stewardship.
We’re implementing proven approaches and techniques that improve soil health, enhance biodiversity, and maintain farm productivity, while creating public access to green space and protecting valuable heritage. Rather than developing new techniques, we’re putting into practice the research and learning of others who are leading in this field.
By doing so, we aim to show how regenerative farming techniques work in practice, develop sustainable income streams that support nature-friendly farming, contribute to species recovery and habitat creation, and share our learning journey with others.
This practical experience puts us in a unique position to engage diverse audiences – from local communities to farming practitioners – in understanding how farming can work differently.
Our farming principles
As of Autumn 2024 we are transitioning away from conventional farming practices towards approaches that other pioneering farmers have been developing and refining for many years.
We are implementing five key Regenerative farming principles that underpin our approach to farming:
- Minimising Soil Disturbance
- Keeping the Soil Covered
- Maintaining Living Roots in the Soil
- Maximising Plant Diversity
- Integrating Livestock
These are delivered in partnership with our farming contractor Emmets of Drayton.
By sharing what we learn, we’re helping everyone – from local residents to policymakers – understand how farming can better serve both people and planet.
A New Vision for Farming
From autumn 2024, we’re making changes across our whole farming operation, including:
- A new farm contractor and crop rotation to support more sustainable practices
- Securing new environmental stewardship agreements
- Changing our grassland management approach
- Investing in heritage protection, farm and visitor infrastructure
- Developing new business models that balance profit with environmental benefits
Demonstrating Change
Within this wider transition, our Species Survival Fund project provides a focused demonstration site where we can show these principles in action through:
- Transforming Bessie’s Field (26ha) into a demonstration site for innovative, regenerative agriculture
- Creating new habitats: flower-rich pasture, wildflower margins, hedgerows, fruit tree lines
- Integrating food production with species recovery through agroforestry
- Employing a Regenerative Farming Officer
- Conducting species and habitat surveys to monitor biodiversity improvements
Follow our farming progress and updates as we share in the journey.
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