Our Projects
Our Achievements
Open Day
On the 19th of September 2024 the MFCG hosted an open day for local partners and supporters at Hale Farm, near West Wittering. We had beautiful weather for our tractor tour of member farms, looking at a range of environmental projects and agri-environment options. There was plenty of discussion about the future of farming and wildlife on the Manhood Peninsula and it was really positive to see people from a number of different organisations coming together to celebrate our achievements and help make plans for the future.
Meet The Farmers
This project saw five of our farmers get in front of the camera to produce videos about their farms and the environmental projects that they are passionate about. We have also procured sign panels with QR codes on that will be put up on rights of way across member farms so that the public can better engage with the land they are passing through and those who are looking after it. The videos can be found on our YouTube channel #manhoodfarmerscluster and on our website here: Meet The Farmers
Grey Partridge Training
In February 2023 the group visited the Rotherfield Estate with Francis Buner from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust to learn about the ecology of grey partridge and discuss how the estate has managed its arable land to increase the numbers of this iconic, and now red-listed, species.
Since then we have also had a trip to the Norfolk Estate at Arundel, hosted by Southern Water and GWCT, to see the measures put in place by the Duke of Norfolk as part of their "Peppering Project", which has increased their population of "greys" from 11 birds to over 2,000.
In 2025 we brought the experts to us and had Francis Buner down to the Manhood Peninsula to visit some member farms and comment on the farmers' proposals for creating new habitat across the cluster area. This has helped the group to decide on the best seed mixes and locations of plots to support the small population of partridge that remains on the peninsula.
Since then we have also had a trip to the Norfolk Estate at Arundel, hosted by Southern Water and GWCT, to see the measures put in place by the Duke of Norfolk as part of their "Peppering Project", which has increased their population of "greys" from 11 birds to over 2,000.
In 2025 we brought the experts to us and had Francis Buner down to the Manhood Peninsula to visit some member farms and comment on the farmers' proposals for creating new habitat across the cluster area. This has helped the group to decide on the best seed mixes and locations of plots to support the small population of partridge that remains on the peninsula.
Grey Partridge Plots
Having received advice from GWCT, the group has set out to increase the area of suitable habitat for grey partridge. They have used Farming In Protected Landscapes funding from Chichester Harbour Conservancy to sow and maintain an additional 6 hectares of “Advanced Partridge Mix” across member farms. This mix has over 20 different species in and provides a range of wildflowers and seed-bearing plants, ensuring that food and habitat are available for farmland wildlife all year round.
Winter Bird Feeding
The group initially put up 24 farmland bird feeders and were out filling these all last winter to supplement natural food sources and keep birds going through the “hungry gap” from January to March. They have now received additional FIPL funding and will have double the number of feeders out on farms in 2025.
Hedge Restoration
Our member farmers have planted kilometres of new hedgerow habitat over the years but are now restoring existing sections of hedge, using practices such as hedge-laying. We started out after our training course by laying a 50m stretch and this year have applied for funding to complete another 200m. Continuing and expanding this practice will improve the condition of the hedges and increase the populations of farmland birds such as yellowhammer and grey partridge.
Owl Boxes
We have purchased 24 nesting boxes for birds of prey and put these up on our member farms. These boxes are made from recycled materials and will help to support populations of species such as barn owls and kestrels.
More information regarding where to purchase these boxes can be found here: Owl and Kestrel Nest Boxes
More information regarding where to purchase these boxes can be found here: Owl and Kestrel Nest Boxes
Hedge Laying Course
We started off our work as a cluster by organising a training course for farmers and land workers on the traditional rural skill of laying hedges. The course was delivered by Colin Hedley from FWAG Southeast and covered the history of the practice as well as the technique and some of the environmental benefits. Hedge laying was originally developed as a way of containing livestock but has many associated benefits such as prolonging the life of the hedge plants and providing better habitat for nesting birds and small mammals.