Herbal leys at Standhill Farm

In 2019, Natural England and the Peak District National Park Authority, working in partnership with the National Trust and six farmers, set up the White Peak Practical Field Trials. The trials aimed to develop new tools for delivering a nature recovery network in this productively farmed landscape.

Herbal leys can act as wildlife stepping stones and provide nectar-rich habitat throughout the season, but had failed to gain much traction in the Peak District. Using tailored seed mixes, herbal leys were sown across five different farms, using a variety of techniques to gain good establishment whilst reducing weed burden and carbon release.

Standhill Farm is the only one to manage solely by grazing. Whilst thistles have been a problem, they have seen the largest range of species grow here, and have reported an increase in buttermilk content.