Farmed environment
The majority of Buckminster land has been farmed by generations of tenants, but a significant area is now farmed in-hand and is committed to various Natural England stewardship schemes to safeguard the future of British farming and enhance the local biodiversity. The land use is predominantly arable for mixed cropping, but also pasture for sheep, cattle and dairy cows.
Land to let rarely becomes available due to established relationships with local farmers and the statutory protection legislation provides to long-standing tenants. We are increasingly looking to grant longer term farm business tenancies to enable the best decisions to be taken for the sake of our soils, biodiversity and productivity. Diversification has sustained some businesses, and we would encourage innovation from younger generations of farmers.
Historically, there has been some extensive ironstone quarrying, lowering the land level. These areas have been restored and brought back in to arable use.