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The Lockett Family

Knockbain Farm, Dingwall

The Lockett family from Knockbain Farm. The family are standing in front of a stack of round straw bales inside a shed.Knockbain Farm is just outside Dingwall in the Highlands. The farm extends to 250ha and has been in the Lockett family since 1971. Some of the farm is managed in-hand with a herd of Luing cattle and a small amount of contract farmed spring barley. The remainder of the farm is combination of woodland and conservation management habitats including wetlands, wildflower meadows, hedges and ponds. Grassland not managed as part of the cattle enterprise is tenanted to other graziers. Richard and Susie have full time jobs which limits the amount of time they can spend working on the farm. David and Denise are (gradually!) moving towards retirement.

Woodlands on the farm include some areas of commercial forestry as well as extensive old, and new, areas of native woodland which provide habitat for wildlife and shelter for stock. All the houses are heated using wood from the farm .The farm is currently investigating ways to better integrate farming and forestry through agroforestry and is in the process of developing a community woodland project in a field next to Dingwall.

The Dingwall Wind Cooperative operates at 250 kW wind turbine on the farm. Tourist accommodation is provided through farmhouse bed and breakfast and a small shepherd’s hut .

Upcoming Integrating Trees Network Events

 

Walking and Talking trees with the Barbour Family. Mains of Fincastle, Pitlochry
Tuesday 13th September, 1pm – 4pm

The Barbour family will introduce us to their family farm Mains of Fincastle. A 540 Ha organic beef and sheep hill farm in Perthshire. They will discuss why plant trees, objectives, the process and challenges. How they have successfully integrated trees into their farming business. Providing multiple benefits from shelter and shade, increase in productivity to carbon capture. We will also have a speaker from Scottish Forestry joining us to discuss funding and first steps to woodland creation. Please come along and bring your questions. Book your free place here. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided. Find out about the Network, its hosts and useful info here

Key messages

  • Do whatever works for you, even if it’s starting small. The Woodland Trust are great at helping with small woodlands.
  • Make the most of all the many things trees can do for us: shelter for stock, biodiversity, carbon storage, and timber production.
  • Get going now, I wish I had done what I’m doing now 10 years ago.

View the event summary from February's 'Woodland Creation for Biodiversity - What to consider? Discussing on the ground examples' event.