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Elston Farm

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  • Farm size: 61 hectares

  • Main farming enterprises: red deer, Jersey beef, herbal leys and arable crops

  • Environmental practices: Regenerative agriculture, min till, silvopasture, herbal leys, wildflower margins, riparian buffer strips, renewable energy generation

  • Sustainability goals: Soil health, biodiversity, habitat management, carbon sequestration

Leading the way in regenerative farming at Elston Farm, Devon

Thirteenth-generation farmer and self-described “agricultural experimentalist”, Andy Gray, has been farming at Elston Farm near Crediton, Devon, for nearly two decades.


Prior to establishing herbal mixes under Mid-Tier stewardship in 2021, the farm operated an intensive arable system. Since then, Andy has transformed his 61-hectare farm into a model of sustainability, switching to regenerative practices, driven by a passion for improving soil health, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity.

 

In addition to crops, livestock play a key role in Andy’s regenerative system. He runs a small herd of Jersey dry cows, which are fattened for beef, and 40 red deer. Stock are primarily grass-fed, supported by herbal leys and silvopasture areas. 


Andy is one of seven farms in the Devon Silvopasture Network, where trees, guards and stakes have been provided by the Woodland Trust’s moreWOODS scheme, in partnership with Lloyds.


The silvopasture system, which combines native trees with grazing stock, provides shelter for the animals while boosting soil organic matter and nutrient cycling.

“I’ve got an ongoing fascination with soil which predates it becoming fashionable,” Andy says. “Soil is central to everything we do here.”

An evidence-led approach

As an early regenerative adopter, Andy was not initially rewarded for the changes he’d made on-farm. Undertaking a Soil Association Exchange baselining audit, also funded by Lloyds, revealed options Andy could take advantage of under environmental schemes, such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).


“It provided useful advice around SFI opportunities; flagging up a few actions I’d not thought about doing,” says Andy.


Insights from farm surveys such as these informed our From Data to Decisions report, an unprecedented review of the UK’s farm environmental performance spanning nearly 240,000 hectares; providing a foundational resource for farmers to measure their environmental impact, enhance operational efficiency, and support long-term profitability.

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Baselining audit highlights

Scoring well on soil health, biodiversity, habitat creation, and water management, the audit at Elston Farm revealed:

  • Excellent water run-off management through minimum tillage, riparian buffer strips and winter cover crops

  • Strong habitat provision with wildflower margins, well-managed hedgerows and woodland acting as wildlife corridors

  • High soil biodiversity with diverse plant species, high worm counts, and good overall soil health

  • 18 bird species, including skylark and house sparrow - two red-listed species

  • Renewable energy generated from two 11kW wind turbines and 230kW of solar panels, supplying one-third of the farm’s electricity needs

Improving soil health and sequestering carbon

Despite soil health remaining at the heart of Andy’s farming philosophy, the farm’s sandy soils traditionally struggled to retain carbon. Through regenerative practices like growing 60 acres of herbal leys and using minimum tillage, soil carbon has risen from 1.2–1.9% to 2.4% in three years – equivalent to approximately 70 tonnes of carbon per hectare.

“Our sandy soils have a reduced capacity to lock up carbon, so I think the improvement is reasonable,” says Andy. “It takes time to build soil carbon. Anyone who says otherwise is talking complete rubbish,” he adds.

Enhancing biodiversity with targeted practices

Biodiversity is a critical component of Andy’s farming approach. His farm features 12,000 metres of hedgerows, managed on a two-to-three-year cycle to make them denser and more effective for wildlife. Herbal ley mixtures include pollen and wild bird mixes.


This approach has paid off with the identification of 18 bird species, including two red-listed skylarks and house sparrows. The audit also identified three SFI options for hedgerow management that he could claim. 

Minimising water runoff and improving soil resilience

Water management has been a priority for Andy for the past 17 years. By practising minimum tillage and planting winter cover crops, Andy has enhanced the soil structure, improving water retention and reducing runoff. These practices have helped mitigate flooding, even during heavy rainfall.
“Our soil used to run off every time it rained. Now, the water sinks in, and we stay green during dry periods,” Andy says.

Diversifying for long-term financial sustainability

In addition to switching to regenerative farming practices, Andy has diversified his business to enhance financial sustainability. He runs M C Kelly Ltd, a catering butchery and wild venison business supplying hotels, restaurants, and butchery shops across the South West. 

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He also produces meat boxes, and has launched a dog food company to make use of less popular cuts of meat that would otherwise go to waste.

Carbon auditing, Andy says, adds credibility with customers:

"It’s another layer of trust. If you can do everything right, you tick the boxes for all the different types of customers you have,” he adds.

Key recommendations and next steps for Elston Farm

The insights from the Soil Association Exchange baselining audit have provided Andy with a clear plan to enhance Elston Farm’s sustainability. Key recommendations include:

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  • Claiming SFI options for hedgerow management

  • Liming fields to improve pH on poorer pastures

  • Tracking carbon sequestration by soil testing every five years

  • Claiming SFI option for undersowing maize

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Andy believes the evidence provided by the baseline will inform future decision-making and bolster the production and profitability of his business: “The audit is a knowledge exchange. We’ve come an awful long way in 18 years, but none of us have all the answers and it helps us identify where we go next,” he explains.  

Your turn to make a change

Every farm has its own path. Explore how Soil Association Exchange could help you take the next step.

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