In the distillery garden and across the Wiltshire Downs, we grow plants that do real work for the land as well as the spirit. Two of the most important sit quietly beneath the surface of Great Bustard Gin. Lucerne and red clover often get written off as simple forage crops. In truth they are two of the most powerful regenerative plants in agriculture and two of the oldest cultivated species on earth.
The Romans called them the Father of all plants. They earned that title through their ability to feed animals, rebuild soils, and support entire ecosystems. Modern farming pushed them aside in favour of synthetic fertilisers. We are bringing them back because they do what chemicals cannot.
Lucerne, also known as alfalfa, and red clover both belong to the legume family. They work with rhizobium bacteria that live in nodules on their roots. These bacteria pull nitrogen from the air and convert it into ammonia, which plants can use. One hectare of lucerne can fix more than 200 kilograms of nitrogen per year. That replaces artificial fertiliser and cuts nitrate pollution.
Roots
This is where their real power lies. Lucerne sends roots down three to five metres. Red clover spreads a dense web through the upper soil. Together they open compacted ground, increase water infiltration, and stop erosion. When the roots die back, they leave behind channels that hold air, water, and carbon. This turns lifeless chalk and clay into living soil.
Leaves and stems
Above ground they build biomass fast. When cut and returned to the land, they add large amounts of organic matter. That improves soil structure, water retention, and nutrient holding capacity. Crops grown after lucerne or clover show higher yields with fewer inputs.
Flowers
Red clover flowers are rich in nectar. They support bumblebees, solitary bees, hoverflies, and butterflies. Lucerne also feeds pollinators and provides habitat for beneficial insects that control aphids and crop pests. Fields planted with these species show lower pest pressure and better ecological balance.
Carbon and climate
Their deep root systems store large amounts of carbon in the soil. That makes them some of the most effective plants for carbon sequestration in temperate farming. They also reduce the need for nitrogen fertiliser, which is one of agriculture’s biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
In Great Bustard Gin, lucerne and red clover form the green backbone of the botanical profile. They bring soft meadow notes, light sweetness, and a dry, clean structure that lets juniper and hedgerow botanicals shine.
These plants are not background ingredients. They are the King and Queen of regenerative agriculture. By using them in our spirits, we are putting ancient soil building plants back where they belong at the heart of the landscape and in the glass.
