Dairy farmer pushes towards greener future

An Old Dalby farmer has started planting thousands of tree saplings to create 1.5km of new hedgerows as part of an environmental enhancement project.

Ruth Grice says the 9,000 new trees at Yards Farm will replace those which were removed on fields there almost half-a-century ago.

Old Dalby farmer Ruth Grice who has planted 9,000 trees as part of an environmental enhancement project EMN-210216-102252001

placeholder image — Old Dalby farmer Ruth Grice who has planted 9,000 trees as part of an environmental enhancement project EMN-210216-102252001

A mix of hawthorn, field maple, hazel, dog rose, blackthorn and sweet cherry are being planted, to benefit wildlife.

Ruth told the Melton Times: “Old maps show that the selected fields used to have hedgerows within them until the 1970s, when many were taken out to increase productivity.

Some of the 9,000 trees planted as part of an environmental enhancement project at Yard Farm, Old Dalby EMN-210216-102303001

“I’m really looking forward to the moment when we can look along the new hedgerows, knowing that we’ve put something back.”

The farm, which has a milking herd of 180 pedigree Holsteins which produce milk for Long Clawson Dairy, is to have a carbon audit carried out shortly.

Ruth added: “I feel passionately about the environment and I’m keen to do what we can on the farm to create spaces for nature and reduce our carbon footprint.”