A recent showcase of nature-friendly farming, held at Codicote Bottom Farm in Hertfordshire, welcomed industry leaders to explore the work of farmers Frank, Barbara and Catherine Sapsed in bringing more nature alongside their food production. The event saw Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England joined by the landowner, James Nall Cain, and representatives from Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, The Wildlife Trusts, Jordans Cereals, North Herts Farmers Grain, and the National Farmers’ Union.

Farmers across the country are facing a range of well-documented challenges – from rising costs and eroding profit margins to policy change. Sustainability and biodiversity are focal areas, but sustainable land management presents a significant challenge when profit margins are already under pressure, and a changing climate is adding to the uncertainty that farmers face.

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is working with farmers across Hertfordshire to create healthier habitats, protect rare species and build more resilient farming systems, including Codicote Bottom Farm, farmed by Frank, Barbara and Catherine Sapsed.

Laura Burrows, Chief Executive of Herts and Middlesex Trust says, 

“Farmland covers more than 70% of the UK’s land area, meaning farmers are essential to nature recovery and long-term food security. Healthy ecosystems are necessary for food production through pollination, healthy soils, clean water and resilience to climate change, and we know that supporting farmers to adopt nature-friendly approaches is vital for both wildlife and the long-term resilience and future of farm businesses.”

One example is the Trust’s involvement in the Jordans Farm Partnership - a collaboration between The Wildlife Trusts, Jordans Cereals and LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming). Codicote Bottom Farm is one of 27 farms that the partnership has supported to develop bespoke conservation plans, dedicating an area for wildlife equal to at least 10% of their farmed land, with some providing much more. The 330-hectare mixed farm includes 19 hectares of permanent pasture, and 46 hectares of habitat areas. To put that into context you can fit approximately 1.4 football pitches into one hectare.

In 2024, 60 nesting and roosting boxes were installed to support species including Barn Owls, bats, Swifts, and Kestrels.

The Sapseds are committed to restoring nature on their farm. 

 Barbara Sapsed says, 

“Data collection is vital. If you don’t know what you’ve got, you don’t know if you can improve it.

“We’ve got lots of Barn Owl boxes around the farm and have had some great successes – we had 14 chicks fledge in our best year. It’s very satisfying.”

Frank Sapsed says,

“We’re proud to have over 600 invertebrate species on the farm.”

“We’ve got a good Water Vole population, and our recent riverfly survey showed our stretch of the Mimram to be in moderate to good condition. We’re seeing improvements year-on-year.”

The farm has recorded impressive wildlife sightings, including 37 Barbastelle bat passes recorded during a 2022 survey, alongside species such as Brown Hares, Skylarks, Linnets, and Yellowhammers. The farm’s stretch of the River Mimram also supports Brown Trout, and Grayling.

Separately to the Jordans Farm Partnership, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is leading work to restore and protect the River Mimram, one of only 260 chalk streams in the world through its Chalk Stream and Farm Advisory project, funded by the Environment Agency. Through the catchment-based project, the Trust works directly with farmers, landowners, and local communities within the Mimram catchment to improve water quality, water availability, and habitat for wildlife – amongst them Codicote Bottom Farm. 

Heidi Mansell, Chalk Rivers and Farm Advisory Officer says, 

“The Chalk Rivers and Farm Advisory project supports practical measures tailored to individual farms and landscapes, helping create healthier river systems for species such as Kingfishers, Water Voles and Brown Trout, while also demonstrating approaches that could be replicated across other chalk stream catchments in Hertfordshire and beyond.

“Codicote Bottom Farm is amongst those in the Mimram Farm Cluster, which we’re working with. Together, we are looking at the opportunities for restoration along a 2km stretch of the river and reconnect it to its floodplain – the aim being to set a gold standard of how a chalk river should be so that it is able to support characteristic species such as Brown Trout and Water Voles.

“Within the Mimram Catchment Farm Cluster, we are all working together to do more for the landscape and for wildlife –more, bigger, better managed, and connected wildlife places is our mantra! Setting out our aspirations for the next five to 10 years is crucial.  There are new private and public sector investment opportunities coming through which will make it easier for investors to pay for the benefits nature provides. These emerging funds will help to pay farmers fairly, improve carbon capture, protect water resources, and restore biodiversity. There’s been a lot of talk about food security recently and we must restore nature in our farming communities to build resilience.”

Tony Juniper, Chair, Natural England says,

“It’s been absolutely fantastic to see what can be achieved through practical cooperation, and not only is Jordans working with this farm, but also there’s a cluster of about 15 farm businesses in this landscape who are working together, comparing notes, finding common cause, building strategies as part of a collective which is really turning the corner for nature in this part of England.”

Together, these initiatives highlight how farmers and conservation organisations can work together to deliver nature recovery at a landscape scale while supporting sustainable food production and resilient rural landscapes. Codicote Bottom Farm is a fine example of how this works in practice.

For more information about the Trust’s work in the farming community visit www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/chalk-rivers-and-farm-advisory