Mariann Klay and Des Leadon welcomed a group of 20 horse breeders and other interested parties for a farm walk at their Swordlestown Little stud farm in Swordlestown, Naas, Co Kildare.
Mariann is a Farming For Nature ambassador and has hosted farm walks before. She is passionate about preserving the natural environment and enhancing biodiversity on their farm. This was a first and exciting collaboration between the Farming For Nature and the Irish Thoroughbred Breeder’s organisations. It is great to see partnerships happen and there is obviously an increasing interest amongst all types of farming activities in a more nature friendly approach and in improving biodiversity on the land.
On a beautifully sunny autumn day, the group set off on a walk around the farm. Swordlestown Little’s main features are old, mature hedgerows, fields laid out in their original divisions, that have not been ploughed since famine times and are still showing the cultivation ridges or lazy beds. A relatively recently established pond and a small mixed deciduous woodland demonstrate how more diversity in both fauna and flora can be attracted quite quickly and easily. Some of the topics discussed were the management of hedgerows by rotational rather than annual trimming and their value not only as habitat, food source and corridors for birds, insects, invertebrates and mammals but also for the tremendous shelter they provide for horses and other stock.
There was great interest and discussion in how to manage grassland and it was shown that species-rich, semi-natural grassland is superior to modern ryegrass mixtures and that it also has superior carbon storage capacity. It was understood that soil health is of critical importance in establishing healthy and diverse swards, as is the prevention of overgrazing/overstocking and giving rest periods to pasture between grazing rotations. Regular collection of droppings, intergrazing with cattle and sheep are important for parasite control. The benefit of not overstocking with horses was demonstrated. It was generally agreed that horses thrive best in quiet and natural surroundings and are ideally suited to a low-nutrient input farming system. Discussions were continued during an al fresco lunch in the yard, provided by the resident chef Des. We all agreed that we had a nice time and that exchanging experiences and ideas is more important than ever so that we all can do our best to help nature.
Written by Mariann Klay