Meet Andrew Elms
In Brief
Who Andrew Elms
Where Lordington Farms, West Sussex
How big 700 acres
Grows Wheat, oats, spring barley, oilseed rape, lavender
New kid on the block, or from a farming family?
My dad developed radar approach landing systems for the Civil Aviation Authority so I’m not from a farming family. Ever since we spent a family holiday on a dairy farm in Devon when I was five I knew I wanted to farm. After studying at agricultural college I became a lecturer, got married, then bought a smallholding and 60 dairy cows. We later moved to this farm and built up our herd to 180 alongside our arable crops, including oats for Jordans. In 2001, when dairy farming proved unviable, we planted five acres of lavender as a way of diversifying – I wanted a change from green and I knew bees loved it.
Most satisfying parts of your job?
Seeing my wild flower meadow in all its glory, and knowing I’ll leave this farm in a better state than when I took it on.
Most irritating parts?
Red tape, fly-tippers and the government’s disregard for farmers.
What keeps you awake in the middle of the night?
Knowing that the price of grain is falling and that I didn’t sell when the price was high.
How do you create homes for wildlife on your farm?
We sow in both autumn and spring which creates a diverse habitat and means ground-nesting birds can shelter in the stubble over winter. Our hedges – which we leave untrimmed over winter so that birds can feed on the berries – provide wildlife corridors. We plant pollen-rich wildflower margins along the edges of our fields and seed crops for birds to eat over winter. We’ve put in nesting boxes for barn owls and tree sparrows too.
Any specific stuff you’re proud of?
Our wildflower meadows – they’re really amazing. We have knapweed, cowslips, cornflowers, yellow rattle, field scabious, orchids and many others. One flower that’s quite unusual is the round-leaved fluellen, with its tiny yellow and purple snapdragon-like flowers.
What difference have these conservation measures made?
In our water meadows, you’ll find snipe, teal and mallard. Across the farm we have tree sparrows, fieldfares, skylarks, yellowhammers, bullfinches, corn buntings, linnets, grey partridges and barn owls. There are birds of prey, including buzzards, sparrowhawks and hobbies. In summer we also have turtle doves, now relatively rare.
What about butterflies?
We have a huge variety, including painted lady, peacock, meadow brown, red admiral, orange tip and comma.
What are you doing when you’re not farming?
I’m restoring my classic cars and vintage tractors, fishing for salmon and trout on the River Test, or skiing. I also do work to support the Prince’s Countryside Fund.
Come the floods, what would you save apart from your family and friends?
The family photograph albums and our farming watercolours.
Favourite breakfast cereal
In the winter, porridge, made with milk, and served with our own lavender honey.
If you hadn’t become a farmer, what would you be doing?
I’d probably have become an airline pilot but my wife hates flying in small aircraft so it was a non-starter.
Your life ambition?
To see more of the world, and to know that my two children are well and happy.