The impact

Restoring hydration to farms comes from supporting healthy, diverse perennial plant communities on all areas of the farm and using management practices to slow water flow naturally, especially high in the landscape. A diversity of plants builds soil during good times and protects soil during difficult times. ‘Groundcover, grass and more grass’ and ‘Slow water at the top before it creates a problem at the bottom’ were common reflections among participants. 

In the New England, we can strive to maintain 100+% ground cover and substantial herbage mass so that rainfall infiltrates rather than running off. Conditions in 2019 were challenging but the higher the diversity of plants, including unpalatable ones, the more likely there are strong perennial grasses that respond quickly when rain falls, slowing overland flow and holding water in the landscape. 

Participants learnt to see their farm as a mosaic of patches. 'Even though I had divided my place into a patchwork of systems, I hadn’t really noted it and so by noting it, it is easier to see the benefits and use those benefits to improve further’ (participant).

People were enthusiastic about some of the more physical interventions, but recognised they need more knowledge and experience before implementing. ‘Depends on cost of creating contours’, and ‘Would need to do the full course to be confident to carry out major changes in the landscape’ were typical comments.