CONSERVATION
SOIL CONSERVATION
To be a successful farmer one must first know the nature of the soil.
Healthy soil is the cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, providing the foundation for plant growth, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. However, modern farming methods, deforestation, and climate change have accelerated soil degradation, increased erosion and the release of stored carbon into the atmosphere. To combat this, farmers in Wiltshire and the vineyard where we are based have embraced regenerative agricultural practices, such as cover cropping, organic soil management, and biodynamic farming, to restore soil health and long-term sustainability.
Organic viticulture eliminates synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, instead relying on natural compost, cover crops, and biological pest control to maintain healthy vines. Biodynamic winemaking takes this a step further, integrating lunar cycles and cosmic rhythms into vineyard management. Pioneered by Rudolf Steiner in the 1920s, biodynamics treats the vineyard as a living, self-sustaining ecosystem, fostering a deep connection between the land and the wine it produces.
With climate change and soil depletion posing challenges to viticulture, biodynamic and organic practices are paving the way for a more sustainable future. By working in harmony with nature, these vineyards regenerate soil, preserve biodiversity, and produce exceptional wines, ensuring a legacy of environmental stewardship and quality artisanry.
RED CLOVER & LUCERNE
Great Bustard Gin uses several botanicals that are found within the birds diet, two of these are red clover and lucerne. The Romans called them the 'Father of all plants.' Yet with modern farming practices these two plants have become fallen into the background. Both plants play significant roles in sustainable agriculture by enhancing soil health, reducing the need for chemical inputs, supporting biodiversity, and improving ecosystem services.
They are leguminous with the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil through a symbiotic relationship with rhizobium bacteria in its root nodules. This process converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which plants can use, thereby enriching the soil with essential nutrients.
Both red clover and lucerne have deep root systems that help improve soil structure. Red clover’s roots enhance soil aeration and permeability, while lucerne's deep roots break up compacted soil layers, increase water infiltration, and reduce soil erosion. The decaying plant material from these cover crops adds organic matter to the soil, which improves soil texture, water retention, and nutrient-holding capacity.
These plants can improve pest and disease management by attracting beneficial insects that prey on crop pests. By disrupting pest life cycles and reducing the incidence of certain diseases, it minimizes the need for chemical pesticides. With the deep roots of both plants they can help increase the amount of carbon stored in the soil, contributing to carbon sequestration efforts and helping mitigate climate change.
These plants are truly the King and Queen of the plant world and we are proud to enlighten you about these forgotten wonders from an ancient era in a modern world. You can see these wonders when you go and see the Great Bustards at Enford and Compton.
