Home Farm - Burkham, Bentworth
Site Description
Home Farm is situated in rural north-east Hampshire and covers approximately 137ha, split into two by a minor road running north to south from Burkham to Bentworth. The soils are clay over chalk with the depth of clay varying significantly around the site. Bentworth is the nearest village, approx 1km to the south.
Home Farm is a mixture of maturing woodland (10.6ha) most of which is secondary with the exception of Wigdell Copse, which is ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW). There is also 67ha of woodland creation (planted between 1991 and 1993) and 59ha of grassland seeded between September 1994 and April 1995. It remains one of the largest native woodland creation sites in southern England.
Some of the planted areas have grown exceptionally well, though other areas have been markedly slower in establishing. This is probably due to a number of factors including soil depth, exposure, insect attack (particularly in those areas near established woodland), and possibly an iron pan plus the variation in the size of the original planting stock. A proportion of the cherry has also been affected / killed by canker, and voles substantially decreased the amount of holly that survived. Despite these setbacks, the young woodlands are developing well and significant natural regeneration is now adding to the stocking levels in many of the planted areas.
The quality of the sown grassland has been equally variable. After the seed was purchased, some of the sowing had to unfortunately be delayed. The grassland on the western half of the site was sown when the seed had been stored for over six months, and the result was that much of the broadleaf element was no longer viable. The seed density used was also low (50kg/ha), particularly the broadleaf element (1kg/ha), partly due to restricted funds but also because grassland creation with substantial amounts of broadleaf species had proven to be rather hit and miss, with significant amounts having been spent by other organisations nationally with generally poor end results. The low seed density used at Home Farm is likely to have contributed to the noxious weed problems experienced in some areas. There were also markedly different rates of growth across the site even in areas sown at the same time, possibly due to aspect and local soil conditions.
The number and range of species of bird visiting and nesting at Home Farm has increased markedly since acquisition (anecdotal evidence only). Birds now regularly seen include skylark and barn owl. A number of owl and kestrel boxes were installed in 2000, and are monitored annually.
Southlease Copse and Stubbins Copse (both ASNW) lie on the SW boundary, with a few small Planted Ancient Woodlands (PAWs) to the SE and to the NW. Home Farm is virtually linked to the ex-Common of Preston Oak Hills, now a planted, predominantly oak woodland (approx 1.5km to the NW), and Herriard Common, now planted predominantly with conifer with an outer fringe of broadleaves, (approx 1km to the N) via small woods and hedgerows. These links with other woods of substantial size. A minor road separates Home Farm from both of these substantial blocks of woodland. Otherwise Home Farm is surrounded by a sea of agriculture (predominantly arable), with significant potential to improve the wildlife value of the area, principally through suitable hedgerow and headland management allowing the linkage of various areas of wildlife value. The busy A339, linking Basingstoke to Alton forms part of the eastern boundary.
Although Home Farm was originally designed with woodland creation occupying the higher ground, leaving some 59ha for grassland creation, these proportions are not likely to remain indefinitely. The area could become more wooded, either by further planting or the encouragement of natural regeneration, without detrimentally affecting the landscape. There are areas very locally, which are predominantly are woodland, hence increased amounts of woodland would easily fit into the landscape character of the area.
At the time of the design of Home Farm, the intention was that the whole area would ultimately be managed by extensive grazing with a small number of conservation grade cattle. These would be free to roam throughout the grassland and planted areas once the latter were robust enough. Cattle were envisaged as having free access across the whole site, including across the minor road following the installation of cattle grids. This management regime is still being considered despite the significant capital expense of stock fencing, possible cattle grids, securing water supplies and the high level of use by dog walking visitors.
The design of Home Farm aims to encourage enjoyment by the pedestrian public with an extensive maintained ride network, open spaces and a small car park with information boards. There are no public rights of way crossing the land but an extensive network of permissive paths. Visitor numbers are estimated at 20,000 per year but no visitor survey has yet been undertaken to substantiate these claimed numbers. Visitors are mainly dog walkers plus people visiting their woodland creation plots or commemorative products on site. Some local people have indicated that they no longer visit Home Farm due to the large volume of "dog-exercising" that goes on. The latter visitor type may decrease when some of the internal deer fencing begins to come down.
