Canons Farm

Tenant Farmer of Canons Farm:

Mr Michael Jelley is the contract farm manager of Perrotts & Canons Farms and his company carries out all field operations for the tenant farmer Mrs Roe.

He has worked on the two farms for nearly twenty years, for both for Mrs Roe and her late husband David.

Below, we share information provided by Michael to the Burgh Heath Residents Association, on the international recognition of the farm and the extremely hard work and dedication put into the to get it qualified with a "Farm Assured" British farm

"I am the contract farm manager of Perrotts & Canons Farms and my company carries out all field operations for the tenant farmer Mrs Roe. I have worked on the two farms for nearly twenty years, both for Mrs Roe and her late husband David.

International recognition: In 2016 we grew wheat for bread making, barley for real ale and beans which have been exported to Egypt for human consumption. We also make hay from the grass fields that is sold during the winter months to local livery establishments.

British "Farm assured" certification: In recent years we have gone to great lengths to become ‘Farm Assured’ and are therefore able to sell all of our produce under the ‘Red Tractor’ label that you will have seen in the supermarkets.

Amongst many other requirements, this label is evidence that the crops are completely traceable back to each field and that all products used are done so within strict guidelines.

We are audited by the scheme each year and any discrepancies in our records, which are extensive, would result in a suspension of our approved status. As you can imagine, audit day is even more stressful than harvest!

From a contractor’s point of view, this year’s harvest was the easiest I can remember for many years. The long dry spell during August meant that we didn’t need to use the diesel drier at all and we were able to combine late into the evenings.

However, the late, cold spring had a negative effect on yields and the prices we are receiving now for the crops is similar to those we received in the 1980’s.

As we approach autumn and the evenings start to draw in, we are busy trimming some of the hedges and sowing the seed for next year’s crop of wheat. We try to get this sown before the ground becomes too wet.

You will also have seen lorries leaving the farm over the last few weeks. We do not have enough storage for the entire harvested crop, so some is taken straight away, with the remainder being sold during the winter and spring.

Next time I will explain some of the conservation measures we take on the farm and how we do everything we can to ensure that we farm alongside nature and not at its expense.

Michael.

Michael is a Chartered Surveyor and manages over 1000 acres of farmland in the region.

History of Canons farm - a birdwatchers view:

A map exists of the farmland south of Banstead that dates from 1871. To the modern observer, it looks strikingly familiar. Place names have little changed. Farmhouses are to be found exactly where the present dwellings are sited.

Woodland boundaries appear to have remained static. The first impression of the field boundaries is that little has changed too, although a closer look reveals that Broad Field was broken up into six units and the large field opposite Reeds Rest Cottages into four. We can therefore picture a farmland with more hedgerows, which would have been more luxuriant than those found today due to the lack of pesticides used on any crops grown between them.

The modern vogue for spraying up to (and even into) the hedgerow does little to encourage vegetation growth. More positives for the birdlife would have been apparent because of the gentler farming practices – the crops would have been sharing the soil with many more wildflowers.

Apart from the seeds that these would have produced for food, the accompanying insect population, enticed by the nectar, would have been boosted – even more food for birds. Compared to today’s empty larder, the 1911 birdlife would have enjoyed a banquet.

100 Years ago

High value Grade II farmland.

What is Grade II Farmland?

This is a very important type of farmland set above all other agricultural land in the country.

Grade 2 agricultural land is very good quality land with minor limitations that slightly affect crop yield, cultivation, or harvesting, allowing for a wide range of crops but with reduced flexibility for demanding ones like winter vegetables, making it part of the UK's "Best and Most Versatile" (BMV) farmland protected in planning.

How it's Assessed (Agricultural Land Classification -ALC):

The grading considers factors like:

Climate: Rainfall, temperature, frost risk.

Soil: Depth, texture, structure, stoniness, and chemistry.

Site Factors: Gradient, slope, and flood risk.

In essence, Grade 2 land is excellent for growing food but faces slight challenges compared to Grade 1, making it crucial for food security and requiring careful consideration in development decisions.

UK Government website information on Grade 2 land and planning:

Policies to protect agricultural land and soil

Developers and local planning authorities (LPAs) should refer to the following government policies and legislation when considering development proposals that affect agricultural land and soils. They aim to protect:

the best and most versatile (BMV) agricultural land from significant, inappropriate or unsustainable development proposals
all soils by managing them in a sustainable way

Natural England uses these policies to advise on development proposals as a statutory consultee in the planning process.

Govt Policy on Grade 2