Gilston lies between Leven and St Andrews in Fife and is managed by Matt Waldie, farm manager and he and Dr Edward Baxter invite you to join the team at Gilston for a conservation farm walk and talk.
Farming activity is centred on Gilston Mains which is 600ft above sea level. It is a mixed farm on very fertile land, growing crops including wheat, barley and oats for Quaker as well as grassland for rearing sheep and cattle. Now farmed according to the principles of Regenerative Agriculture, with cattle included in the arable rotation to restore soil organic matter through the capture of atmospheric carbon.
The estate is laid out for shooting with young and not so young plantations.
This guided tour with Dr Baxter and Matt Waldie will provide a fascinating insight into how the estate is run throughout the year and will focus on the below areas:
1. Winter oats and Winter wheat established using no-till
2. Double- hedges in fields as protective cover for partridges
3. Mob- grazed cattle (there is a mob of 350 or so together which is quite a sight) and AMP grazing (Adaptive multi-paddock grazing).
4. Multi-species cover crops established as food for cattle and as an early entry for winter cereals.
5. Wild Headlands: The Estate’s innovative adaptation of conservation headlands providing a nectar source for aphid predators and an insect-rich habitat for partridge chicks.
Following the tour guests are invited to enjoy lunch.
The tour will start at 10am followed by lunch around 12.30pm. Numbers are strictly limited and non-GWCT members are welcome.
Cost per attendee is £20 to include shoot tour and lunch
Contact Rory Donaldson on rdonaldson@gwct.org.uk if you have any questions.
GWCT Scotland are delighted to announce a partnership with Howden who will support our farm/shoot walk and talks during 2024. Howden are a specialist insurance broker catering for all types of rural risk, from Arable and livestock farms to family-owned estates.
