arable facts
The majority of crops grown are cereal crops, mainly wheat and barley with a small amount of oats. These are used in a variety of foodstuffs including bread, cakes, biscuits, beer, whisky and muesli. The most familiar crop is oilseed rape with its distinctive yellow flowers and pungent aroma. Rapeseed is crushed and the oil used for cooking or food processing, to make bio-diesel to power cars and other vehicles or as an industrial lubricant. Also found in the Chilterns are peas and beans (similar to those grown in people’s gardens). These are mainly grown in rotation with cereals to provide a break and reduce disease, weeds and pests associated with growing one crop continuously. Alternative crops such as linseed, borage and poppies can sometimes be seen, grown mostly on contract to provide medicinal products.
Crops are also grown to provide food and cover for game birds and farmland birds. These are normally planted in strips next to hedgerows and consist of maize, sunflowers, millet, sorghum and kale.
arable figures
(all figures relate to the Chilterns AONB in 2003 and were supplied by the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs or Defra)
Area of wheat grown approximately 49 square miles (12,767ha or 31,534 acres)
Area of barley grown approximately 18 square miles (4729ha or 11,680 acres)
Area of oil seed rape grown approximately 10 square miles (2650ha or 6548 acres)
Area of oats grown approximately 4 square miles (1,122ha or 2,771 acres)
livestock facts
Cattle and sheep are the most widespread and visible farm animal in the Chilterns. Sheep outnumber cattle by more than 2 to 1 reflecting the differing profitability in the two enterprises. One reason cattle numbers have fallen is closure of most of the dairy herds due to declining milk prices. Pigs and poultry are also present in large numbers although the majority are kept indoors. There are a small number of producers in the Chilterns who keep unusual livestock such as red deer, alpacas and even European bison.
Total number of cattle – 18,485
Total number of sheep – 40,332
Total number of pigs – 26,911
horticulture
Parts of the Chilterns have a long history of orchards particularly those growing cherries. They were used in liquors and gins as far back as 1730. During the 19th century parties of cherry pickers came out from Reading and London at harvest time. Orchards have declined over the years but there are still fruit farms to be found, many offering pick-your-own. See Local Products for more details.
The poor chalk soils of the Chilterns are not very fertile so the area of vegetables grown is small and mostly confined to better land in the area of the Thames floodplain.
viticulture
The Chilterns is home to several vineyards producing quality wine. The thin chalky soils are well suited to grape growing and are similar to some of those found in well known wine regions in France.
more information
Contact: Tracy Adams
Farming and Land Use Officer
Conservation Board
Tel 01844 355523
Email tadams@chilternsaonb.org
