Fungi's place in nature
When we think of fungi we tend to think of mushrooms, but mushrooms make up merely ten percent of the fungal kingdom. Most fungi live out of sight ranging for miles underground in a complex network known as the wood wide web.
Using fungi as an ally for ecological restoration is a relatively new concept in the UK borrowed from the age-old methods of nature. Tapping into and working with the knowledge bank of native fungi which has adapted to thrive in the local landscape.
What we do:
- Introduce saprophytic fungi to the land to kickstart the fungal activity and soil creation process.
- Make natural medicines, stimulants and nutrients incorporating the healthy forest soil that will help fungi and plants to grow.
- Grow edible and medicinal fungi.
- Encourage a mutually beneficial mycorrhizal relationship between fungi and plants.
- Forage on the land and host mushroom and fungi workshops for better health, benefiting both us and the soil.
Walled Garden
At the heart of it is a back-to-basics way of doing things, starting with soil. A natural and holistic approach using our home-made enriched compost, tinctures and ‘teas’ - a liquid brew of bespoke microbiology that helps plants connect to the soil they’re growing in.
The walled garden is our test bed for all of this.
The farm
Tom is a fourth-generation farmer in the valley, moving from a traditional to a more regenerative approach. He grazes his herd of sheep and cows on the land and moves his livestock every day to allow pastures to naturally recover without adding chemical fertilisers.