Grass margins at Bent Farm

Margins have the potential to be rolled out across the White Peak, creating wildlife corridors across the grassland plateau. In 2019, a network of 3 metre margins were established around arable and silage fields. A seed mix was formulated that comprised a wide range of native grasses and herbs, including robust species likely to persist in high fertility soil.

After an initial period of very wet weather and proliferation of docks, which were sprayed with herbicide, some sites have developed a tussocky sward valuable to invertebrates, small mammals and their predators.

Pictures showing the progress of establishing grass margins: February 2020, July 2020, October 2020 respectively.

See what else White Peak Field Trials (opens new window) farmers have been doing. Trials are funded by the Peak District National Park Authority Grant Scheme, with advice from Natural England.