Taking charge of the 170-hectare Old Hall Farm near Dereham, Nick Anema, embraced a conservation-focused approach. The property, nestled in the river Tud valley, boasts diverse natural features. Transitioning from dairy farming, Nick turned to Aberdeen Angus cross cattle which thrive on the farm’s rough and wet grazing pasture. Joining the Countryside Stewardship Scheme in 2001, he dedicated a decade to environmental projects including coppicing and planting hedgerows, planting 11,000 trees, and finally acquiring the SSSI at Badley Moor in 2010.

Engaging in government pilots, the farm now cultivates wildflower and bird food mixes. Collaborating with the Norfolk Ponds Project, Nick rejuvenated his ponds and unearthed a ‘ghost pond’ fostering aquatic life. Future plans include river restoration and woodland pasture creation, driven by Nick’s commitment to conservation.