Leguminous plants sown in companionship with two deep–rooting grasses begin the process of fertility building and generally increasing biological activity in the soil. We chose a leguminous plant called Soinfoin because it is drought resistant, nitrogen fixing, contains high levels of minerals, is deep–rooting, rich in tanins (bloat free) and research carried out at Copenhagen University suggests it is a natural anthelmentic (wormer in animals) .

Because we believe in plant diversity we added Birdsfoot Trefoil (another legume) and two grasses, Timothy and Meadow Fesine. These plants form the basis of our farming system which is as follows:

Year 1 – Establish fertility–building crop, Sainfoin, Birdsfoot Trefoil
               and two grasses

Year 2 – Cut twice for silage (winter feed for our cattle and sheep)

Year 3 – Graze with cattle

Year 4 – Graze with sheep

Year 5 – Graze with pigs (who plough in the ley)

Year 6 – Potato Crop (making full use of fertility built into the soil in
               previous five years)

We decided to make full use of the fertility building ley by grazing it with cattle and sheep then pigs. We chose a breed of cattle native to East Anglia called Red Poll to further enhance the fertility of the soil by grazing and dunging, therefore encouraging beetle activity and other soil micro–organisms that are essential to creating a healthy soil.

2008 saw waterways reinstated, ponds dug out and cleared, trees planted and over 2.5km of livestock–friendly fencing erected. The farm is bordered to the north by the river Blyth, habitat to otters, kingfishers, eels, marsh harriers, barn owls and many more species. To the south of the farm lie some of the last remaining Sandling heathlands in Suffolk which are natural habitats to nightingales, adders, slow worms, lizard and rare butterflies such as silver studded blues. Wenhaston has an active group of people dedicated to conserving this rare and beautiful habitat.