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Grange Farm laps the North and West edges of Knapwell. It is a fully operational farm of about 450 acres growing predominantly combinable arable crops. It is also the base for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ Lowland Farm Project. It is a working laboratory investigating ways in which farms can not only be profitable but can also conserve and encourage wildlife. The farm was bought by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in 1999 using funds very generously donated by its membership.
Grange Farm is seeking to
provide models for farming and land-management that farmers will be happy to
adopt not just for the sake of wildlife but because they make economic sense.
A local farmer works the farm for the RSPB, providing skilled labour and
modern machinery to both husband the crops and provide the particular
management needed for the wildlife-friendly cropping trials. The scientific
work involves painstaking planning, observing, recording, and reporting. This
work is conducted by a handful of enthusiastic RSPB scientists, greatly
assisted by some very skilled wildlife recorders from the local area who give
of their time and knowledge voluntarily.
The RSPB owns many nature reserves across the country that have facilities to welcome visitors and help them appreciate our rich and varied wildlife heritage. Grange Farm is not one of these nature reserves and it does not have the facilities to enable it to be open to visitors - there is no Visitor Centre or marked nature trail. Small-scale events are held for local people, including the residents of Knapwell and there are two public footpaths across the land that give access at all times. Groups of farmers and their advisers are also able to visit Grange Farm by prior appointment and learn of the work taking place.
Grange Farm has a happy relationship with Knapwell. A representative attends the Parish Meetings. The RSPB's interest in hedgerow and verge-management means expert advice is at hand. Better still, the RSPB has undertaken to manage all the RSPB hedgerows bordering on the village. Best of all, skylarks can be heard throughout the spring and summer pouring out their song high over the fields around Knapwell!
More information about the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds can be found on the RSPB web site. Detailed information about what is happening at Grange Farm can be found by clicking “Hope Farm”. This is the public name that is given to the farm to give it some anonymity. It lessens the potential for people to make their own way to the farm expecting to find a nature reserve and visitor centre in the village of Knapwell.