Four farms in the Wyre catchment are testing an enhanced herbal ley mix, to improve natural flood management, and boost soil health and structure. The farms – part of the Innovative Farmers herbal leys for flood management field lab – aim to compare this deep rooting mix, with a classic herbal ley mix and a control field.
This will improve our understanding of what herbal leys can potentially offer for in-field natural flood management in a productive farming system, as well as options for future payments rewarding herbal ley establishment and management. Heather Stott, Head of Science at Wyre Rivers Trust, which coordinates the trials, shares an update on the field lab.
The event explored best practice for establishing herbal leys, the challenges of establishment and findings from the trial. We met at a trial farm in the Wyre catchment, for a farm walk and discussion, which went really well. Over 30 people attended and there was lots of support and enthusiasm. Getting that many people out there to look at herbal leys was great and it shows there’s an interest.
In the northwest, we’ve had a very dry spring, so everyone was really impressed with the drought resilience of the plants, especially the chicory and plantain. They were almost blooming, while the grasses weren’t doing great in the earlier spring. Everyone wanted to find out how herbal leys could work on their farms. Quite a few people had herbal leys before, but they’d not really worked because they weren’t managed appropriately. However, the day really showed how you can establish and maintain them correctly. We’ve had a greater uptake of people wanting herbal leys on their farms now they’ve seen them in practice.
Two of the trials have been successful and two haven’t been. With the ones that weren’t so successful, it was due to challenging weather conditions, not using the right seeding rate, and limited funding to go back and make changes. It’s trial and error and we’ve learned valuable lessons. With the two that failed, it wasn’t from lack of trying. We did everything by the book, but their sward was too strong going in for the recommended seeding rate. One of the farms is keen to try again and the other farm is looking at options, as they understand the benefits of diverse grassland sward and the hydrological resilience it provides.
It’s not been plain sailing, but we’ve really learned how to establish herbal leys. We came to the realisation that we must sow the seeds at 2.5 times the recommended seeding rate, if we’re putting them into existing grassland. In the trials, we mainly have permanent pastures that haven’t been ploughed for probably ten years, so it was important to us that we didn’t increase the pesticide load or disturb the soil too much. Other than that, we’ve learned that we need to rotationally graze. Two out of the four farms who’ve been most successful established the 2.5 times seeding rate and practised paddock grazing too. I don’t think herbal leys are for everyone but when they work, they really work.
Think about the seed mix and don’t fear deeper-rooting species. A lot of people thought chicory wouldn’t do very well but it’s done great in mixes, plantain as well. Look for the plants that will give you drought resilience, which will theoretically give you more flood resilience as well.
If you’re establishing herbal leys, treat them very sensitively in the first year. In the field lab, the fields weren’t grazed from September until the following spring. They had enough time to establish, before a paddock grazing system was implemented, which was key. When the seeds were sown, the farmers put some sheep on the fields to knock back some grass for a short time, then the fields were given a six-month rest period. By doing this, you should get more permanent swards.
Yes, one of the farmers has commented that his cows now don’t like his other pastures. The herbal leys are obviously much tastier!
The Wyre area is at risk of flooding over winter. The drought resilience of the herbal ley has been really evident, even last winter, when they were in the early stages of development. We’re hoping to see full flood resistance benefits this winter, now the pastures are more established. The field lab is due to wrap up next spring, and we’ll report the results around May.