Cilthrew Project update - July 2024
The project aims to demonstrate how using technology to gather and store records in relation to specific Sustainable Farming Scheme ‘Universal Actions’ (as they are currently proposed) could provide useful and beneficial data for the farmer, saving time, while also ensuring data is accurate and verifiable by;
- The use of ISO accredited soil sampling
- which will contribute towards completing UA3
- The use of earth observation to identify areas of interest, combined with ground-truthing field surveys backed up by localised GNSS enabled readings with Geo-tagged photographic evidence.
- Which will contribute towards completing / recording compliance with UA11, UA10, UA4, UA7, UA8 and scheme rules relating to minimum habitat and tree cover
- UA3 - Soil health planning
- UA4 - Multispecies cover crop
- UA7 - Habitat maintenance
- UA8 Create temporary habitat on improved land
- UA10 - Ponds and scrapes
- UA11 - Hedgerow management
- Which will contribute towards completing / recording compliance with UA11, UA10, UA4, UA7, UA8 and scheme rules relating to minimum habitat and tree cover
Cilthrew has been working with Farmeye to collect and record data for the aforementioned purposes.
Data collected so far:
- VESS assessments - 168 assessments carried out across the farm
- Earthworm assessment (methodology in Appendix 1) - 168 assessments carried out across the farm
Data collected so far:
Examples of earthworm counts and VESS assessment report cards
Further information:
VESS assessments video with voiceover