At Airds farm we are partners with the Scottish government in an environmental scheme. On of the prescriptions is to provide food and habitat for bird species, and this is done by sowing crops that will not be harvested. A mixture of kale, triticale, linseed and quinoa is sown with sunflower for interest.

Shown above is a 360 excavator digging out a pond as part of our RSS scheme. As the water table is generally not far below ground level in this region, the excavation will naturally fill with water and remain full all year. Vegetation such as reedmace and other water-loving species will naturally colonise the pond and its water margins. The area round the pond is fenced to exclude livestock so that the growth is not eaten down, but there some farmers believe that limited grazing is more satisfactory.

At Airds we've also planted several hundred metres of new hedge, again designed to produce habitat for birds, small mammals and insect species. Predominantly hawthorn and blackthorn, the hedges also include holly and dog rose. Afetr about five years the hedges will be either cut to the ground or laid, a technique involving slashing the main stems just above ground level and interweaving them horizontally to form a dense barrier. Although this may seem savage, because a strong rootstock is present, new and vigourous growth is invariably thrown and the hedge rapidly remains its height and volume.