Environmental diversity on the land is protected through the use of only minimal spraying with cutting used more as a control. Suckler herds from a neighbouring farm that is also accredited in a farm assurance scheme come in for mid-summer to top the pastures and moorland not used for hay.

Sheep can be noticed to have a preference for flowers – whether daisy, bluebell, pignut or thistle.

The bird diversity is considerable, with English grey-legged partridges, woodcock and snipe as well as lapwings, curlews and oyster catchers. Skylarks are many and a long-eared owl hunts voles by day in the reedpasture.

The farm has succesfully entered Higher Level Stewardship and is establishing a new programme of outreach and educational access - the Aelred Grange Project.

The river bank of Stean Beck has a considerable diversity of wild flowers, from primroses, wood anemones and wild violets in late spring to many different species in June and July. Blue bells on the hill sides mark the areas of ancient woodland long gone. Some communities of hare bells are starting as the meadows and pastures recover from an earlier widespred use of herbicides and synthetic fertilisers.

Whilst I do not agree with organic livestock farming, given the importance of animal welfare and the risks associated with non-use of modern veterinary medicines, vaccinations and protectants, I am committed to maintaining the land in a holistic way with minimal applications of chemicals. If thistles are pulled up - they tend not to return! Many areas on the farm are fenced to allow wild flower diversity and several areas are maintained as wetland both for plant biodiversity but also for bird habitats, particularly snipe.