Cotteswold Dairy Biodiversity 2025

From improving biodiversity, to protecting water and soil, to better use of manures and nutrients; Cotteswold Dairy producers uphold high standards of environmental care across their farms. All farmers are encouraged to enhance biodiversity on their farms through participation in a robust environmental scheme, by monitoring farmland birds or by dedicating an area of land to biodiversity.

At Cotteswold Dairy, we are committed to caring for the environment around us, many of our farms have been in the same family for generations, with knowledge and practices passed down over time. This long-term connection to the land fosters a deep sense of responsibility and care. Farming with the environment in mind comes naturally to these farmers. From healthy soils producing high quality grass, to the boundary hedges, trees and pasture that provide habitats, carbon storage and sequestration - a well-managed dairy farm is a balanced ecosystem.

Cotteswold Dairy seeks to protect and improve the natural environment that our suppliers farm and call home. We encourage our farmers to have measures in place to support biodiversity on their land, from participation in robust environmental schemes (such as Linking Environment and Farming - LEAF, and the Sustainable Farming Initiative) to participation in farmland bird counts. Areas of the farm that are untouched by agricultural management are dedicated to biodiversity. Each year we collect information from our farmers to measure the actions being taken on farm.

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Did you know? 37% of our farmers have installed bird boxes. Along with owl boxes, beetle boxes and lapwing plots.

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Some of our dairy farmers are going even further, demonstrating best practice to their peers with projects dedicated to enhancing and conserving nature. Soil health assessments are conducted across all our farming partners farms and fields, at least every five years, but as often as annually. Soil testing allows farmers to measure their organic matter and informs their nutrient plan. Actively using a nutrient management plan allows farmers to more efficiently and effectively apply fertiliser.

Some of our farmers are using legumes within grassland to reduce artificial nitrogen usage further and using precision technology to maximise applications of manures, fertilisers and slurries. All are examples of how a change in farm management can lead to cost savings and lower carbon.

The protection of watercourses is an important priority for all dairy farmers. Our standards require all our suppliers to adopt measures around the farm to protect watercourses by promoting the use of buffer strips, crops to reduce soil erosion and fencing to prevent livestock access.

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Did you know?

92% of our farms have a watercourse, a total of 13 hectares of lakes and ponds. The equivalent to nearly 19 football pitches!

A carefully maintained watercourse can be an excellent habitat for wildlife, benefitting the farm ecosystem.

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Healthy soils are maintained through practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and reducing soil compaction; all of which improve soil structure, increase organic matter and promote soil biodiversity. Nutrients from manures and slurries are recycled back into the soil. This closed-loop system reduces the need for chemical fertilisers, enhances soil fertility, and minimises waste.

Boundary hedges play a crucial role in the farm ecosystem too, providing habitats for wildlife, acting as nature corridors and protecting the soil from erosion by wind and water.

Carbon storage and sequestration on dairy farms is possible through good management and preservation of permanent pasture, which acts as a carbon sink and helps to offset greenhouse gas emissions.

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Did you know?

82% of our farmers have seen Barn Owls. Along with Brown Hares, Lapwings, Curlews & Skylarks.

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We are proud of our commitment to the environment and biodiversity on our farms. We recognise we all have our part to play in making sure farmlands are sustainable for generations to come, and look forward to working with our farmers more to support this.