Aeration in Calderdale

Our aeration project is well underway in the Upper Calder. Contractors are using state of the art machinery to aerate over 200ha of permanent pasture.

Over the past year, our Farm Advice team, Jane and Ollie, have been visiting numerous farms in Calderdale and identifying land suitable for aeration. By using a compaction probe (penetrometer) and digging soil pits, they have been assessing compaction on various land parcels across holdings.

Aerating permanent pasture can provide several benefits, including:

• Improved water infiltration and reduced surface runoff. This helps prevent soil erosion and enhances water retention within the pasture.
• Improved soil structure and better air circulation in the root zone, which promotes root growth and nutrient uptake by plants. This also encourages a more even distribution of nutrients throughout the soil profile, increasing overall productivity.
• Encouraged microbial activity in the soil. Microbes play a crucial role in breaking down organic matter and releasing nutrients, improving soil fertility and nutrient cycling.
• Aerated pastures tend to be more resilient to environmental stressors such as drought or heavy rainfall. Improved soil structure and drainage help the pasture recover more quickly from adverse conditions.

In general, aeration is a great method to improve soil health, which is fundamental to a prosperus and resilient farm business and catchment.

Ecological considerations have been made throughout this project, especially concerning CHEGD fungi, like Waxcaps, that thrive in the ancient grasslands in Calderdale. On one farm, test strips have been left to observe any potential effects on the mycorrhizal networks in the soil.

The aeration will complement our other Natural Flood Management (NFM) interventions in the catchment, helping tackle flooding in the Calder Valley using nature-based solutions. These measures bring benefits to farmers, landowners, and residents further down the valley.

Thank you to Calderdale Council for funding this work through the Priority Action Fund.

If you are a landowner or farmer in Calderdale, Kirklees, or Wakefield and would like free and confidential advice, contact: farmadvice@calderandcolneriverstrust.org