Market Rasen Rotary

19/05/2026

07/05/2026

Our Speaker, Ginny Askam, thanked us for our invitation to speak was introduced by her Dad, Rtn David Herring.

Ginny is 57 years young and had been a personal trainer for 24 years. Ginny has always been interested in physiology, how the body works and various types of exercise including running. Following ten years in London working in advertising, she qualified as a Personal Trainer and Sports Massage Therapist. This led to further qualifications in nutrition, how to exercise for rehabilitation and exercise for seniors. She herself has had a partial knee replacement, however using her experience and knowledge she is back to running and walking long distances.

Ginny now has a broad range of clients of all ages and abilities and always inspires her clients that it is never too late to start. She noted as the ‘less young ‘get frustrated by what they can’t, or no longer can do, she thought she could help overcome that problem.

In the short time available, Ginny aimed to give useful information and motivation. She asked that the audience ask themselves what is important to them. She said we should each invest in our own body, just as many of us think about investment in a new car, property or other material things. Her intention for each of us is to help us remain independent, preventing injuries, and feeling younger.

Regarding movement, Ginny asked that we all stand, raise our arms in the air and sit down again, then questioning how many of our body’s muscles were used in that brief activity. Many were surprised to hear that over 100 muscles were used in that simple exercise all of which are needed keeping fit and strong as we get older.

Ginny said she speaks of 3 pillars of fitness:
1, Strength: Use it or lose it. There is a huge decline in muscle mass as we age, however we can slow this down and indeed increase our muscle mass with strength bearing exercise such as walking and lifting weights including our own body weight. This also protects joints and increases bone density, creating a stronger body.
2, Mobility: reaching, bending, turning all parts of your body. As we get older, our necks have forgotten they can turn independently of our shoulders and our knees start to complain more. Our joints are surrounded by synovial fluid which when inactive gets sticky (eg overnight in bed), movement, and exercise makes this fluid less viscous and allows freer movement. For people who are less young than they used to be (!) even small improvements in mobility—moving our joints freely and comfortably through their full range of motion—can lead to greater confidence and better quality of life
3, Stamina: This is crucial for seniors because it enables daily independence, reduces fatigue, and lowers the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Building endurance helps maintain mobility, improves cardiovascular health, and boosts energy for daily activities or hobbies. Keeping muscle strong improves our balance, which declines as we become less young. Balance is important - try standing on one leg for as long as you can, and then on the other for as long as you can.

So, what can we do as we become less young? How we stand and sit matters. If shoulders become rounded then the muscles at the front of our body become over used and the body becomes imbalanced but with shoulders back, core muscles activated and one of our largest muscles, the ‘Gluteus Maximus’ (our backside) doing its job the correct muscles start to work and do their job. Don’t sit for too long, take breaks, intersperse sitting with a walk around.

Heel raising is a good exercise to improve balance; Shoulder movement improves mobility of the upper body; Hip mobility can be improved by raising each leg in turn and moving the raised leg outwards and then lower. Improved hip mobility and strength will also support the lower back and help prevent any potential injuries.
Little or no equipment is needed - simple aids such as small weights or cans of beans, elastic band stretchers, which provide resistance and of course walking will all help to keep you youthful.

Exercise:
improves blood flow,
improves sleep,
improves memory and thought processes,
improves the immune system resulting in less illness,
a lower risk of disease and stronger more resilient bones.
Excess weight can be a problem at any age, affecting mobility, so eating a healthy mixed diet with little or no multi processed food will help maintain that quest for youthful activity and appearance.
In summary of her talk, well delivered in the short time allowed, Ginny said it is never too late to start. Muscle can grow at any age. It just needs looking after.

The audience thanked Ginny for her advice after her 89 year old Dad thanked her on behalf of Market Rasen Rotarians and our many guests on the day.
Rotary District 1220 - News Around 1220

05/05/2026

Paper making in Lincolnshire 1600 to 1900 was the title of a talk given to Market Rasen Rotary, by one of its’ members.

Rtn. Hugh Nott spent much time researching and recording paper making history and then how paper was made in Lincolnshire, particularly in Tealby (and to a lesser extent in Caistor), which eventually resulted in the publication of a book : Paper Making in Lincolnshire 1600-1900. (easy to find on web pages selling books).

Hugh referred to his book throughout his, interesting talk linking his talk to images on the screen.

Starting with the development of the written word from hieroglyphics to our alphabet and language today, Hugh also talked of the development of writing materials, from bamboo, waxed tablets, parchment and eventually paper. Similarly, he took us through the Geographic development of the printed word from China in 105 AD through various countries until England got on the bandwagon in the 1600s.

When printing began, so did the need for paper, and this was produced from macerated rags and vegetable matter, thoroughly soaked, firstly in a caustic solution and then in clean water, laid on drying screens and then dried to use. Watermarks could be introduced by having a thinner layer of paper over the marks in the bottom of the drying tray.

Fresh clean water was needed and this water used to soak the raw materials but also to drive the water wheel to provide energy for the mill.

The book Hugh wrote refers to the families involved, their financial ups and downs, the sale of businesses following bankruptcy or death. It has details about the 3 mills in Tealby on the headwaters of the river Rase.

By 1837 local paper mills had been turned into housing, as paper making became more industrialised, and following the economic upheaval caused by the Napoleonic wars.

The very detailed talk is only given a summary above, but the talk has been given to many interested societies and organisations throughout the County.

Rotary District 1220 - News Around 1220

27/04/2026

MARKET RASEN ROTARY - Would like your redundant tools to refurbish and send to Africa.

We collect:
Knitting and sewing machines; Lengths of Material, Haberdashery, Working Computers and tablets Windows 7 and above) also networking Switch Routers and cables;

Builders and Ground worker’s tools; Plumbers, Carpentry, Electricians, Motor Mechanics, Engineering and Agricultural tools, Power Tools (Engine or electrically operated)
Sorry, no electrically operated garden items can be collected, eg strimmers, mowers , hedge trimmers,etc-- but engine operated items are welcome.

These articles will give a meaningful and profitable life to the recipients.

We are collecting at Middle Rasen Methodist Chapel from 10.00-12.00

Or we can collect, Please contact: [email protected] or call 07551 759116
Please bring along on the day, or phone for collection.

29/03/2026

Lincolnshire is known as Bomber County but there is one location where Polish was the normal language during World War 2. Rtn. David Herring introduced Neville Drury, Chair of the Board of Trustees at RAF Ingham to talk to and remind Market Rasen Rotarians of the vital part the Polish military played in the war. The topic was the formation and role of the Polish Bomber Squadron based at the former RAF Ingham, located between Caenby Corner and the former RAF Scampton. From 1938 onwards war with Germany was anticipated. On the first of September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. Poland had managed to acquire a copy of the German cypher machine – Enigma. This had been handed to the British where eventually it was used in Bletchley Park to break the German cypher codes. Following the invasion of Poland in 1939, Britian declared war on Germany on the 3rd September 1939. A period known as the ‘Phony War’ followed. Despite fighting desperately to keep their country safe, it proved an impossible task. Polish people (particularly pilots) moved out to anywhere that they could escape the German invasion. They were impeded by the Russians moving into Poland and so most moved to Romania or France. Those in Romania were interred initially but later released and they travelled to the south of France, where many had congregated. A large passenger ship – Arandora Star –sailed from Biarritz to Britain, full of Polish Airmen but later Polish Army personnel were also carried. On arrival, the Polish Army members were sent for training in Scotland; The Polish Airmen were sent to Blackpool where there was training centre for them. The Polish airmen remained in the Polish Airforce – probably for operational reasons, especially language, but came under Bomber Command control. Polish women if they were suitable, were placed in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force as part of the RAF.

RAF Ingham in Lincolnshire eventually played a significant role as base for the Polish Air Force Bomber Squadrons. RAF Ingham had a grass runway and from 1942 to 1944 the station was home to No. 300 (Masovian) Polish Bomber Squadron; No. 305 (Ziemia Wielkopolska) Polish Bomber Squadron, and No. 199 Squadron RAF. These squadrons undertook bombing and mine-laying operations over occupied Europe, Flying Vickers Wellington aircraft, exemplifying close cooperation between Polish and British aircrews.

Another group of Polish airmen formed under an agreement between the Polish Government-in-Exile in July 1940 the No. 303 (Kościuszko) Fighter Squadron. This was one of the most distinguished Polish units to serve with the Royal Air Force. The squadron operated RAF Northolt in August 1940 as part of RAF Fighter Command. Flying Hawker Hurricane fighters during the Battle of Britain, No. 303 Squadron quickly gained a formidable reputation. Despite entering the battle later than many other units, it became the highest-scoring fighter squadron of the campaign, with 75 confirmed enemy aircraft destroyed, a record that highlighted the skill and combat experience of its Polish pilots. The squadron’s courage and effectiveness were publicly praised by Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, then head of RAF Fighter Command. No. 303 Squadron continued operations throughout the war, later flying Spitfires and Mustangs on offensive sweeps over occupied Europe and during the liberation of France and Germany. The squadron was disbanded in December 1946, but remains one of the most celebrated units in RAF history.

RAF Ingham was a satellite airfield to Hemswell and Faldingworth, and designated a Bomber Command station. During the war the A15 down to Scampton was closed to allow the long SW-NE runway at RAF Ingham to be expanded. An Intelligence Officer at Hemswell and who would also visit Ingham and Faldingworth was a Michael Bentine. Michael Bentine CBE (1922–1996) was a British comedian, actor and writer, best known as a founding member of The Goons. Before his entertainment career, he served during the Second World War as an RAF Intelligence Officer. Originally trained for aircrew, Bentine was rendered unfit for flying after a serious medical incident during inoculations. Owing to his fluency in languages, he was transferred to RAF Intelligence and later seconded to MI9, the organisation responsible for supporting resistance movements and aiding the escape of Allied personnel. During this period, he worked closely with Polish bomber squadrons operating under RAF Bomber Command, including Polish Squadron 300 (Masovian).

RAF Ingham with its grass runway was very susceptible to wet weather – after heavy rain the runway became unusable as the planes just sank into the mud. This resulted in a move in 1944 to retrain the Wellington crews at Ingham to fly Lancasters from Hemswell and Faldingworth with their hardened runways. In the two years these squadrons were active at Ingham they lost 177 crew and a memorial to 300 squadron at Faldingworth has just been renovated by the volunteers from the Polish Bomber Squadron Centre – this memorial will be re-dedicated on 17th May 2026.

Following the move of Wellington bombers based at Ingham, the airfield continued to be used for night flying training of the bomber pilots from Hemswell and Faldingworth. For this, there was a flight of Hurricanes based at the airfield. Lancasters would fly locally, and the Hurricanes would attempt to give the gunners practice at night shooting. On one occasion a Hurricane collided with one of the Lancasters, both crashing to the ground, killing all the crew. The Lancaster had been double crewed, 7 to 14, to give experience and all were lost including the Hurricane pilot.
Following, VE Day1945 the Polish airmen and soldiers had another problem as Poland was under Soviet occupation. They were given the choice of go back home to Poland or stay here in England - airmen would be transferred to the RAF. Those that decided to stay were given housing and at that time the quickest form of housing was to build Nissen Huts – so they built a Nissen Hut encampment for Polish people in the village of Ingham. The Polish Bomber Squadron Centre has recreated a Nissen Hut with period furnishing at their centre as an example of where these people lived.

The Polish Resettlement programme ended in 1949 when the people were given a choice again – go back to Russian controlled Poland or enter English Society. Most chose to remain in England. Following the end of the war, RAF Ingham (later renamed RAF Cammeringham) became a centre for the Polish Resettlement Corps, supporting Polish servicemen and their families who didn’t return to post-war Poland. The station closed in 1946 and the land was returned to agricultural use.

Today, the former airfield is home to the RAF Ingham Heritage Centre, also known as the Polish Bomber Squadrons Centre. Run by local volunteers, it is the only heritage centre dedicated to the Polish bomber squadrons of the Second World War. The centre preserves the history of the airfield and commemorates the service and sacrifice of Polish and RAF personnel. The centre tells the story of the Polish aircrews and ground staff through personal accounts, photographs, artefacts, and restored wartime buildings, including the recreated Polish families’ Nissen hut. The museum also commemorates the humanitarian story of post-war resettlement and the lasting contribution of the Polish community in Britain. An agreement was reached with some of the local farmers and the local Rose family to obtain a lease on the site for 25 years. The Rose family, known for their chocolate business, turned to manufacturing Lancaster gun turrets during the war. The heritage group now have the site until 2037 when they hope that the thriving museum will get its lease extended. The Polish Government was willing to support the Centre, along with the National Lottery. The Polish Bomber Squadrons Centre at RAF Ingham was officially opened on 17 April 2024, by 104-year-old Polish veteran Mieczysław Frąckiewicz (John Franklin), a former wireless operator with No. 304 Squadron. This marked the completion of a 14-year volunteer-led project by the RAF Ingham Heritage Group. One of the exhibits which is well worth mentioning is the front 18 feet of a Lancaster bomber made completely out of paper. This exhibit is quite spectacular and was made by a French artist. The opening ceremony was attended by UK and Polish dignitaries, veterans, and descendants of aircrew, and included a flypast by a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire. The heritage centre is the world’s first dedicated to the Polish bomber squadrons who served with the RAF during the Second World War. An invitation is extended to all to visit the Centre.

Rotary District 1220 - News Around 1220
https://www.rafingham.co.uk/

24/03/2026

Samantha Cook is a very well qualified horticulturalist and has won numerous awards for her gardens. Her current project and home is Bardney Manor. Samantha spoke to the Rotary Club of Market Rasen in the Tealby, Tennyson D’Eyncourt, Village Hall. Rtn. Derek Anderson introduced Samantha who he had previously met as a visitor to his local gardening club. Whilst several members were familiar with Bardney, none had visited the Manor or its gardens and most didn’t even know it existed. The Manor is not well known and when she and her husband, Martyn, first noticed it was for sale they were fascinated by the property and its history.

The Manor has an important, interesting history which has over the years been forgotten. Bardney Abbey was established in 697 and continued on the site, (and is mentioned in the 1066 Doomsday Book). A Bardney fact mentioned was the tradition of always leaving the church door open. This is a story about St. Oswald. Bardney Abbey was loved by Osthryth, Queen of Mercia and in about 679 she wanted to move the bones of her uncle St. Oswald to there. When the body was brought, the monks refused to accept it because the Abbey was in the Kingdom of Lindsey and Oswald when King of Northumbria had once conquered them. The relics were therefore locked outside the Abbey – but during the night a beam of light appeared and shone from his bier up into the heavens. The monks saw this and declared it was a miracle and accepted the body. They are also said to have removed the great doors to the Abbey so that such a mistake could not be made again.

Hence the saying ‘do you come from Bardney?’ means that you had left the door open. The church door is kept open daily.

In 1538, King Henry VIII ordered its dissolution, resulting in the destruction of almost the entire Abbey. The abbot’s lodging building remained, and was taken by Sir Robert Tirwhitt and converted into a house eventually becoming Bardney Manor. The Tyrwhitt’s did not stay for long in Bardney but they did leave a plaque with their coat of arms on the house which when translated reads ‘Where I stand they will flourish’. The house was then occupied by Lord William Willoughby, from the Lincolnshire branch of the wider Willoughby family. The expansion of this house used stone from the destroyed Abbey and also bricks from the old Manor House at Tattershall Castle. These bricks are quite distinctive and were originally produced in Tattershall, much smaller in height than traditional brick resulting in distinctive brickwork. These two families held Bardney Manor as post-Dissolution lay tenants. There was a pattern of ex-monastic estates passing from the Crown to favoured knightly families (Tyrwhitt) and to local gentry (Willoughby). This continued all through the 15th to 16th centuries. Following the Willoughby’s the estate and Manor was taken over by the Viner family headed by Lady Compton Viner. This family was present at Bardney from 1686 through to 1789 and was the last of the aristocratic family connections to Bardney, after which it passed on to the Sharpe family. John Sharpe of Sleaford was a hugely successful 19th century seedsman who created Sharpe’s Seeds, in Sleaford, one of the most profitable seed businesses in Britian. The warehouse for this business still stands in Sleaford and is used as the National Craft and Design Centre. John Sharpe had two sons, Charles and John. Charles stayed in Sleaford and ran the seed business. John left the family and married Marion the heiress of Sutton Seeds (a major competitor to Sharpe’s) becoming disowned by his father. John then moved to Bardney with little more than £10 to his name, and following his marriage changed his name to John Sutton Sharpe. John started his own seed business in Bardney – the brothers Charles and John remained competitors all their lives. Charles business concentrated on the agricultural crops and seeds while John was more interested in horticultural plants flowers and seeds. John built a large warehouse near the river Witham in Bardney and beside the new railway so that shipping and transport was easy. The warehouse buildings still stand today but have been repurposed. The railway has closed and the river no longer used for commercial transport but in its day this area was a hive of activity. The arrival of the railway into Bardney allowed easy access to the town.

John Sutton Sharpe created the walled gardens for the manor. He managed the kitchen gardens, he introduced improved horticultural methods, maintaining the walled garden microclimate for fruit and vegetables and successfully growing pineapples. His work became widely known and admired. Gertrude Jekyll (a famous garden designer) visited his gardens, and Queen Victoria took an interest in Sharpe’s horticultural work. The business success can be measured by patronage of Queen Victoria and its age measured by a Victorian post box placed in the outer wall of the warehouse, still there today. By the late 19th century John Sutton Sharpe was living permanently in Bardney Manor, known locally as ‘Old John Sharpe’ and was remembered for his gentle character and a man who, whilst he had lost a fortune (Sleaford seed business) still survived and kept his dignity and skill. He died in 1918 at 95 years old and is buried in the church yard in Bardney. The headstones in the graveyard show that many of the people buried there lived to over 80 years, quite surprising for the 18th and 19th centuries, but may be explained by all the houses in Bardney had their own well providing their pure drinking water. Also growing most of their own food from seeds and plants and fruits provided by the local seed business of John Sutton Sharpe. Many of the villagers would also have worked at the Manor or for the local seed business. This relatively happy and healthy lifestyle may have contributed to a long life. Following John’s death, the Manor and business went to his son William who spent the estate money on women, wine and motorcars and then emigrated with his wife to Australia.

Following this, the estate and Manor house declined and the buildings fell into ruin. The gardens, extensive glasshouses deteriorate rapidly and eventually the land becomes a pasture with sheep grazing. This was how Samantha and her husband found the Manor and they decided to try and restore the house and gardens to their former state. Reviewing old records, Samantha found the main outline of the garden plans. The very time consuming search for more historical information continues. It is a case of trawling through libraries and museums etc looking for anything relevant. The Ancestry website showed a John Sharpe had a great great granddaughter still living in Australia, a retired farmer of 85. She knew all about William and Rachel who had come over from England. She had never been to Britian, but she knew of the Manor at Bardney assuming it had been knocked down. Information she gave to Samantha, included when her Great Grandfather John was in the Manor they had over 600 members of staff working for them; the estate itself was 356 acres, stretching from Bardney to Potterhanworth and Southrey. Over the years most of this estate was sold off, much of it for housing with the last bit being the orchards which were sold off just before Samantha bought the remaining Manor and Gardens and started on the restoration.

Having moved into the Manor in 2022, Samantha began the process of recreating the 2 acres of kitchen garden and after a great deal of work and help from designers and various heritage funding and from commercial horticultural companies they are now able to open the gardens to the public. The garden is due to become a partner garden of the Royal Horticultural Society (because of its historical value to the county) and she strongly recommends us to visit and see for ourselves what a wonderful, if hidden, garden and house that it has turned into. Please review at: www.bardneymanorwalledgarden.com/home
The only other partner garden in Lincolnshire is the one at Doddington Hall near Lincoln. Apart from the now open garden, Samantha runs various horticultural courses, they have accommodation on site with an Airbnb and this year they will have a specialised plant fair and they will be opening for the National Gardens Scheme.

Visit Bardney, it will be worth your time!

Rotary District 1220 - News Around 1220

19/03/2026

On Saturday 14th March Market Rasen Rotarians along with friends and
visiting Rotarians from Gainsborough, Retford and Louth Clubs gathered
at the Market Rasen Cricket and Football Club, to enjoy a night of Horse
Racing. Some 50 people were in attendance and the placing of bets was
prolific. During a break in the racing, at the half way point of the evening,
a hearty supper of steak pie, chips and mushy peas, ably supplied by Mick's
Chippy in Caistor, was enjoyed by everyone. Eve Bennett, Rotary’s usual
Caterer, kindly helped with the serving of supper.
The Rotary Club, and organiser Rtn. Stuart Davis, is indebted to Reg and Lyn
Percival of North Kelsey for their total professionalism in running the event on
behalf of Rasen Rotary, as without their experience and expertise it may well
have never got off the ground. Rtn Bob Winter acted as MC for the evening.
The Race Card held 8 sponsored races of 8 horses per race with all horse
names provided by sponsors, (many sponsors Rotarians), beforehand.
Everyone entered the spirit and a thoroughly enjoyable event was achieved.
Rtn. Hugh and Penny Nott kindly organised a raffle with a whole host of
donated prizes.
The generosity of the punters , through their support of the Betting,
the Raffle, Race Auction etc, swelled the coffers to a magnificent nett
profit of £840. Rotarians are absolutely delighted with the successful
outcome and all proceeds will be divided between our Rotary Foundation
Charity and Dementia Care.

Rotary District 1220 - News Around 1220

15/03/2026

Market Rasen Rotarians have once again been able to take a large quantity of medical supplies to the collection point near Gainsborough to start its’s journey to Ukraine.
Rasen Rotarians are keen to receive more items of occupational health; unused, unopened, within date medications; within date hi energy food bars and drinks; sanitary products and anything else that may be of use to medical centres/hospitals in Ukraine.
Regularly running trucks take the goods after the organisers in Gainsborough raise the money for fuel for the journey. Donations for this purpose are also welcome.
Direct arrangements can be made by calling Lynn Atkinson, near Gainsborough on 07866 201144, or to any Rasen Rotarian or by calling David on 07889 558 779 or Malcolm on 07802279728
Donations of funds or goods always welcome.

13/03/2026

James Walgate was introduced to Market Rasen Rotarians by Rtn. Bill Emms. James, is a local farmer and Rtn. Bill has known James since the 1980’s
James farms about 1700 acres at Hall Farm, Cuxwold, on the Lincolnshire Wolds near Caistor.

Since the 1980’s farming has undergone many changes, going from maximising yield at more or less any affordable cost to the present situation of massively reduced support and a much greater concern for the soil and the environment. James spoke about Regenerative Agriculture, soil health and agriculture. His main cropping plan includes winter wheat, spring barley, spring beans, spring oats, linseed and a novel oil crop – winter Ahiflower. Ahiflower (Buglossoides arvensis) is a regeneratively grown oil crop cultivated mainly in the UK with a common name - corn gromwell. The seeds are cold-pressed to produce a light, clean oil used in supplements, skincare, and wellness products. It is positioned as a sustainable, plant-based alternative to fish oil and evening primrose oil.

Four years ago, James decided that they had to try and bring animals back onto the farm because of the growing interest in regenerative agriculture and the benefits of animals in the nutrient cycle. They established a flock of sheep which has been enlarged over the last four years. Also, they have introduced a pig ‘bed and breakfast’ operation – pigs are brought onto the farm where they stay and are looked after until they go back to their owners. These pigs are a good way of converting straw, from the harvested crops, into farmyard manure which is then spread on the land. The farm at Cuxwold is on light sandy loam land on a chalk subsoil. James recalled his younger days being lectured about these light soils – the worst thing that you could do is to plough, cultivate and prepare a seedbed, plant the seed and roll it all flat. All this is destroying the organic matter and so damaging the soil. However, at that time there was really no other viable alternative. In 2015 James went on a trip to Brazil and met John Landers, an English agronomist who worked as a consultant for Shell Qumica, a Royal Dutch Company who took over Rothwell Plant Breeders. He is one of the main flag wavers and considered to be the grandfather of the ‘No-Till’ movement in Brazil. On returning to England, James was confronted with a 10% cut in his sugar beet acreage by British Sugar. This gave an opportunity to try out growing a cover crop on the unwanted sugar beet acreage and the possibility of direct drilling winter wheat into it in the autumn. Following this a direct drill was purchased in 2017 and since then there has been no ploughing on this farm. James then went on to explain his thinking on what was happening with ‘conventional farming’:
· Yields are plateauing despite ever increasing inputs.
· Pests and diseases are becoming a big issue.
· Soils are becoming depleted so there is more reliance on synthetic fertilizers and the soils are becoming dysfunctional
· Resistance to existing plant protection chemicals is widespread and there are few if any new chemistry options available. The policies of the EU have resulted in the removal of many useful chemicals from the market.

A healthy soil results in healthy plants but over the last few decades ‘conventional farming’ has broken this relationship – we now need to try and repair it. We need to work with nature and not against it. There is free energy available from the sun, we have CO2 in the air and we have water in the soil. Through photosynthesis, plants can use all these elements to produce carbon-based compounds. 40-60% of these compounds are exuded from the roots into the soil. These exuded items go to feed the organisms of the soil microbiome – all the fungi, bacteria etc that survive in the soil. So, the energy trapped by photosynthesis goes down into the soil to maintain all the organisms that depend on it. The plants and the soil they are growing in exist in a symbiotic relationship – the plant needs various nutrients and these are made available through the soil rhizosphere, in turn the plants provide the energy and nutrients necessary to maintain a healthy rhizosphere. When a plant is attacked by a disease or pest it can respond in a similar way to that way humans do - with our immune system.

We need to start with an aerobic none compacted soil. We need to maximise the use of photosynthesis to feed the rhizosphere and to maintain the life in the soil. For example, if we take a crop of winter wheat, this will be growing actively in the ground from say October through to harvest in August. After harvest the roots will die and stop providing food for the soil and the soil microbiome will go into a dormant state. Intercropping with a suitable alternative crop which remains active after the wheat harvest would be a solution that keeps the soil in an active state. Intercropping is now becoming popular, and legumes such as beans or clover are a good example of crops that can grow alongside cereals. James has found that he could establish an under-crop of white clover and then direct-drill winter wheat into it. The clover will fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and is able to survive amongst the wheat crop. After harvest the clover will continue to grow and maintain the soil organisms. It will also allow James to graze his flock of sheep to feed them on the clover - and provide further nutrients for the soil.

Controlled Traffic systems one option to keep the unwanted, unhealthy, soil compaction to clearly defined areas, by all machines travelling over exactly the same ground – tram lines. Another system to avoid this compaction problem James has employed – Controlled Pressure. This alternative system requires that all equipment that travels over the field should have low pressure tyres, all tractors and any trailed implements. However, for these machines to travel on the open road the tyre pressure needs to be high to prevent tyre wear and to keep the machines steady at speed. On entering the field James has a system of reducing all the tyre pressures to give the low ground pressure requirement. The tractor is fitted with an air compressor which can automatically restore high tyre pressure before leaving the field.

Also to consider is the reduction or elimination of all pesticides fungicides and herbicides. Currently not completely possible, but reduction in application rates and frequency is being achieved. The aim is also to eventually eliminate application of artificial fertilizer and instead rely on a healthy soil, with a fully functioning nutrient cycling system which will provide all that the crop needs. The change in practice to this new sustainable farming will take time, the soils must be built up and the cropping systems modified to maximise this new regime. Nitrogen application for a winter wheat crop used to be 240kg/ha and this would have been common under the ‘conventional’ system, James is now only applying 100kg. Where previously he was applying up to four fungicides per crop he now only applies one. He is not using any seed dressings, no growth regulators and no insecticides. The result will be a healthy plant, a healthy food web and nutrient cycle in the soil, better nutrient content in the harvest crop and better keeping quality in the final products.

Finally, James pointed out that in nature there is no system of applying artificial nutrients and yet there are vast areas of the globe covered with vigorous healthy plant life which have never seen any artificial fertilizer – how is this possible? One suggestion is the phenomenon of Rhizophagy. Rhizophagy is a plant–microbe interaction in which root cells take in living microbes, strip nutrients from them using reactive oxygen, and then release the surviving microbes back into the soil. It is a nutrient-acquisition strategy that sits alongside mycorrhizae, nitrogen fixation, and classical root uptake, but it works in a very different, almost cyclical way.

The aim now is to work with nature rather than against it.
Probably around 5% of farming is under a regenerative system but there is a lot of interest so it will definitely grow especially on the lighter land – not so easy to apply to heavy clay.

Rtn. Bill Emms then thanked James for his very clear and explicit explanation of the benefits to be had from these newer systems of farming – however, Bill was wondering if perhaps we were heading back to the days of the Four Course Rotation which were introduced in the early 1700’s particularly in Norfolk and spread widely in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Rotary District 1220 - News Around 1220