Oakchurch
Sustainability
Our commitment to sustainability
At Oakchurch Farm, sustainability isn’t just a box to tick, it’s an integral part of how we farm, day in and day out. We’re constantly exploring smarter, more responsible ways to care for our land, crops, and environment.
Here’s a few behind the scenes videos of how we manage general farm practices to help protect the environment and eco systems.
Winter storage ponds and wildlife habitats
We have created winter storage ponds across the farm to collect and store rain and surface runoff water during winter months to use for irrigation during drier months.
These ponds not only help reduce reliance on mains water but also encourage biodiversity, supporting a wider range of wildlife from swans and moorhens to hares and pond life.
We’ve designed shallow edges and allowed wild areas to flourish around the ponds, providing vital habitat for insects, birds, amphibians and other native species.
Circular thinking: manure, coir and soil health
We’ve built a covered manure store that allows us to repurpose the used coir (coconut fibre) from our strawberry and raspberry crops. Instead of letting this valuable material go to waste, we spread it under our cherry trees and raspberries.
This process helps us to reduce artificial fertiliser use, improve soil health by increasing organic matter, encourage earthworms and beneficial microorganisms and enhance carbon storage in the soil.
To make this more efficient, we’ve invested in a mini muck spreader designed to fit inside our polytunnels.
Responsible plastic use and recycling
We’re mindful of our use of polyethylene plastic in fruit production.
After several seasons of use over the crop, we repurpose the material to create skirts and doors around our tunnels, extending its life.
Once it’s no longer usable, all plastic is fully recycled, ensuring we make the most of every resource.
Bees and bugs
At Oakchurch, bees play a vital role in the success of our fruit crops. We welcome both wild pollinators and managed honey bee colonies to the farm each season to enhance pollination across our fruit crops.
In return, we maintain a bee-friendly environment with diverse habitats and flowering plants. By supporting healthy bee populations, we’re not just improving yields, but we’re helping protect one of nature’s most essential pollinators.
Looking ahead
Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. At Oakchurch, we continue to explore new ways to farm with care, for our land, our produce, and future generations. To see how we grow responsibly, head to our social media pages for more!
