Broadgate Farm

Living in such a beautiful area we as a family and business are very committed to Conservation and Wildlife. In 2003 the farm business entered into a 10 year agreement with DEFRA to conserve and enhance the landscape at Broadgate Farm by restoring and maintaining stockproof hedgerows and drystone wall to enhance the traditional pattern of field boundaries within the Forest of Bowland AONB.

Over the last 8 years we have created a new pond and several scrapes which are providing more foraging areas for breeding wading birds and a good quality habitat for aquatic insects and plants, both of these can be viewed from the bird hide.

We have restored drystone walls which not only provide good shelter for livestock but also are excellent sites for insects to winter.

By increasing the structural diversity within the hedgerows using a combination of laying, planting and coppicing we have created structural field boundaries which form valuable habits for nesting bird, insects and small mammals. These hedges will only be cut every 3 years on a rotation basis to allow them to fruit and provide a good source of food.

Recently we have restored the traditional farm buildings, the roofs have been replaced using reclaimed Welsh slate and stone work has been rebuilt were necessary and pointed by hand to maintain the historic interest of the farm.
If you would like to know more about our commitment and on-going work please feel to ask on your visit to us or there is more information on www.naturalengland.org.uk

Lapwing and wadding birds are counted regularly by the RSPB.RSPB lancashire website

All of our outdoor projects use Ingleton blue stone as it blends in with the surroundings leaving a more natural look.

A further development on the farm is a ‘dog walk’ leading to a bird watching hide with access for a ‘Tramper’, this will also be linked to a concessionary footpath joining a public footpath. By linking it to a concessionary footpath, it will allow the pubic to come as far as the bird hide to view the wild life in the area without causing them any disruption to guests staying for a quiet holiday on the farm. It will also create an extra link to some of the many local footpaths in the area, along with links for the ‘Tramper’ to Cobble Hey Gardens and Calder Vale, or a circular walk round Bleasdale and back round to the main farm.

See more about Trampers on our walking and cycling page