Livestock have played a central role in farming for thousands of years, and they remain one of the most effective tools for building healthy, productive soils. When managed correctly, grazing animals stimulate plant growth, recycle nutrients and increase organic matter within the soil. Their manure feeds soil organisms, helping create a thriving soil food web […]

Buying your country property can be a big step into the unknown. Not only do you now have a house to look after, with all its unknown quirks that you’ll only discover gradually over the years, but also land that doesn’t look after itself in any tidy shape or form. And how quickly do grass […]

Perfectly working pond overflow on a wildlife pond we created last year. The pond is working perfectly, the inlet and overflow ensures the pond levels are kept so that the pond works exactly as designed and the banks don't become water-logged. For consultation and pond creation please contact James

This week I was asked by a client with a small farm about the posibility of 're-wilding' - the short answer is re-wilding is only effective on a large scale. James explains more here... Contact james@james-gillies.com to discuss your land plans, big or small!

Drones had received a bad press lately largely due to mis-use around airports however their usage in a land management capacity cannot be understated. Being able to survey large sections of land without disturbing the natural environment is invaluable, as is being able to access areas such as rooves without using ladders or cherry-pickers. Topographic […]

Wildflower Meadows for Wildlife. Inside Your Meadow. Meadows are wonderful, evolving entities. The first year of any meadow it has a huge array of beautiful annuals for colour, however your subsequent years are always a fantastic surprise as to what you will get. Different flowers will germinate in different years all dependant on the condition […]

All fields have boundaries, often these are the least productive parts of any field, where the cost of managing far exceeds the rewards. Field margins are, however, very important habitats for wildlife. Many key species in the UK are in sharp decline due to agricultural practices. Field margins represent important havens for an array of […]

Why Meadow Habitats are imperative for Biodiversity   A meadow is a crucial habitat which could comprise over 150 different species of flower and grass that support a myriad of insects from bees and beetles to grasshoppers and butterflies, which in turn support many small animals and birds. A meadow could contain up to 40 […]

Bio Diversity Offsetting – How both land owners and nature are benefiting... Biodiversity Ofsetting.. sounds a bit scary doesn’t it?! Sounds really like something that big developers and huge government organisations do.. How could you as an individual land owner help..? Anyone who has some land and falls within certain designated areas can benefit from […]

If your pond is drying out it can look like a disaster for wildlife. But fear not… In the wild, drought in natural ponds is not nearly bad as it seems. According to the Freshwater Habitats Trust approximately 40% of our lowland countryside ponds do dry out in drought years. Surveys show that ponds that […]

At the beginning of 2018 we started the 100 Meadows Initiative… basically in 2018 we wanted to create 100 (or hopefully more!) meadows to help reverse the decline in wildflower habitats. The decline in wildflower meadows over the last 50 years has meant that this diverse and valuable ecosystem which is home to so many […]

Weed or Wildflowers We use the term “weed” quite freely but what it really is, is just the wrong plant, in wrong place, at the wrong time. One persons weed is another person’s favourite wild flower and weeding is complete dependant on what plants you are trying to cultivate. Every square inch of your plot […]

State of Nature In Oxfordshire 2017 Report  In 2013 the first State of Nature report was published which detailed the changes nationally in nature since 1960’s. The findings of the 2013 report detailed some shocking and worrying trends including the loss of natural habitat across the board through wetlands, woodlands, wildflower meadows and grasslands. The […]

Creating A Wildlife Haven - Woodlands I think we can all probably agree that woodlands are havens for wildlife, from the smallest insects to birds and mammals, creating a woodland is a fantastic way to help the local fauna and flora. A single large native oak tree supports hundreds of species, now imagine what you […]

Wild Flower Meadows -  Why It’s Important to Cut and Clear  Wildflower meadows are a stunning feature of your land and one which helps wildlife to prosper. But meadows require maintenance in order to remain at their best. It is vital that your meadow is cut back every year after it has dropped its seed […]

The Problem With Poo If you are an equestrian, poo-picking your paddock is probably not a task that you relish. It’s hard work and unpleasant but are you wasting your valuable time? Is clearing your paddock essential maintenance or could you spend your time more productively on other chores? The answer to that question will […]

Amenity Grassland and Wildlife Habitats Our nation’s wildlife is often restricted to semi-natural habitats. It can be difficult for many species to prosper when these sites are isolated and the connections between them, which act as wildlife corridors, have been lost. It is crucial that urban development and the impact of intensive farming are offset […]

What Estate Agents Will Never Tell You You may have spent much of your life dreaming about owning your own estate. Perhaps your children growing up so quickly has made you realise that country living would be a great idea. Either way, a visit to an estate agent has left you with a number of […]