Cronkshaw Fold Farm
A Description
We are a traditional West Pennine farm with 44 acres (16.7 Ha) of inbye
land and
moor rights for grazing 250 sheep and 50 cows. Our land is between 650
and 1100 feet above sea level or in modern speak between 220m and 320m
above Sea Level. The heavy soil on the farm's NW facing slopes does not
allow cattle grazing between November and April. Only sheep overwinter
outside, even then the gateways become very muddy. Our stock comprises
pigs, sheep, poultry and horses on livery. We try and run an
environmentally friendly farm, allowing the stock to wander as freely
as possible. This is known as extensive farming as opposed to intensive
farm. We are not a "farm park" and our work on the farm continues during
any visit.
We moved into this farm May 1991 from a smaller holding within
the valley. Immediately we started to plan our environmental/agricultural
policy. Sheep and beef were to be our main enterprise so of course
grassland management and dividing the land into fields was a great
consideration. Fields bounded by hedges and trees grow a grass crop
sooner in the year, according to a study at Salford university. This
fits in well with our environmental policy. Our overall aims are to
provide a wider range of habitats. Within our boundary we have
moorland, fenced off to encourage heather regeneration, rough grazing
with fine grasses and whinberries. Orchids and violets are found on
these higher slopes. In the areas that are boggy, sphagnum
mosses are bountiful. On the lower slopes amongst the rushes
especially near the new fences and
hedges we have seen Snipe, Curlew and Grouse. In our hay meadows there
are an abundance of flowers and the Peewit have been nesting in the
thick sward. The
Countryside Stewardship
scheme has enabled us to realise some of our plans far sooner than we
would otherwise been able to. In the rushy very boggy areas there are
some large patches of ragged robin and marsh marigolds. The management
plan was developed with the view that in the present economic climate
the farm must be run by myself with a small livery yard to bring in
the cash flow! This has meant that we have had to be careful of our
land management. We did run a small licensed riding school, but the cost
of the insurance became prohibitive, so we have given up the licence.
The main diversification that I feel is important is our educational
project. Please find enclosed a map of
the farm with the stewardship aims on also
some extra things that we have initiated ourselves.
There are about eighteen species of wild flowers within our boundaries.
We have moorland, fenced off and now also walled off to completely to
exclude stock and let the heather regenerate. We have increased our
heather plants from 5 to over 80. The year we rebuilt the moor boundary
wall was a set back as all the sheep on the moor seemed to come to
graze. Stock have been excluded entirely for 3Yrs. In 1998 we grazed
our few barren ewes on the heather regeneration area, for June and some
of July, about five weeks in all. This will be our practice until we
finish the Stewardship scheme in 2001. Several small Rowan tree seedlings have
about eight inches of growth on them. Fascinating to think how these
came to be seeded here! On this area also there are an abundance of
mosses.
The disturbance of the soil when digging the
three scrapes initially got a couple of patches of Ragged Robin and
Marsh Marigolds going, now there is just a mass of yellow flowers. The
wildlife in the scrapes has been increasing we have had visiting ducks
and two varieties of dragon flies there were also masses of frogspawn
and some toad spawn.
The garden allotment that is close by has been sheeted up with old
silage sacks, under which a lot of toads hide during winter. This plot
is being developed as an organic vegetable and fruit garden. The
produce - plants, fruit, vegetables , jams and chutney will be sold on
our egg round and in our little souvenir shop. We are planning to make
the plot accessible to all our visitors and an integral part of the farm
visit. It is very therapeutic potting up plants. We hope day care clients
or the new healthy living centres will use us.
Broadway Primary School year one children came and in the vilest
weather planted a hedge. They each had a hawthorn whip, measured and
drawn and then recorded on a certificate. The children have since
returned on 2 visits to see their 'tree' only five plants failed to
thrive and those children will come back in the Autumn to replant. I
got the local garden centre to donate some good sized labels so each
tree is easily identified by its owner. Rossendale Groundwork Trust
operating the Farmlink Scheme helped here with the transport.
We have won the first prize Farm Landscape Competition in 1995, judged by
Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group - Lancashire.
We were not allowed to enter in 1997 as the previous winners
Farm Link Schools
Broadway County Primary School
St Veronicas Catholic Primary School
A map of the farm.
