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This summer we ran our first bird survey. The Sussex countryside is a haven for wildlife, with a wealth of habitats, and bird surveys can reveal valuable information about biodiversity and ecosystem health. They can also help us better understand any impacts which our farming practices are having on local wildlife. As an organic farm, and part of a number of environmental stewardship programmes, it’s important for us to monitor our bird populations, identify key habitats and demonstrate our contribution to environmental conservation.

Working with Chichester District Council, the bird survey was run in June 2025 and saw the specialist officers surveying three 500m transects for 45 minutes, walking from one end of to the other. Overall a total of 39 species was spotted, totalling 371 birds.

Here’s what bird life was seen:

Celebrating our wildlife diversity

It was great to see such a diverse number of bird species across the farm and encouraging to see some noteworthy birds too. The Skylark is always a joy to see and hear, with its distinctive trill sound as it hovers at height. The Green Woodpecker was another delight with its vividly coloured markings.

Some birds of prey, including the Common Buzzard and Sparrow Hawk, were seen demonstrating their different methods of hunting.

We are keen to identify areas and habitats that best suit particular species. Surveys like this also help us to identity where new habitats might need to be created, to help attract some of the rarer species, like the Corn Bunting, Turtle Dove, Curlews and Lapwings, all of which have been in decline in recent years.

We’re also looking at sitting an additional Barn Owl box to provide a nesting site for the resident Barn Owls. 

Why carry out a bird survey?

Bird surveys are a very useful tool for farms but the two key reasons we undertook the survey are for:

1. Biodiversity assessment and monitoring – to help us identify which bird species are present on our farm and in what numbers, providing a baseline for future comparisons.This helps us track changes in bird populations over time, identifying declines or increases in specific species. We can also see which habitats are most important for different bird species, allowing for targeted conservation efforts.

2. Environmental stewardship and conservation – to help us make the right decisions when it comes to conservation planning so that we can consider habitat management, such as creating or enhancing nesting sites, providing food sources or managing the grazing of our dairy herd.

We will be repeating the Bird survey again in December and April, so we can build a picture as to which species are overwintering on the farm. Hopefully over the coming years we can take measures to see both numbers and diversity increase.

Many thanks to the knowledgeable team at Chichester District Council for their help and support with this project.

The roots of The Woodhorn Group are rooted in agricultural heritage, dating back to the 19th century.

In 1882, the Pitts family, dairy farmers from the West Country, relocated to West Sussex to take over Church owned tenanted farms in Chichester, Amberley, and Oving. Leading the move was Fred Pitts, a famer and businessman (something of a rarity at the time) who not only managed the family farms but also served as Managing Director of The Belgravia Dairy Company. Fred recognised the superior soil quality in Sussex compared to Devon and likely saw the added benefit of being closer to London, particularly to the company’s headquarters in West Kensington.

Since then Woodhorn Farm in Oving has remained under the guardianship of the Pitts family, and our Group founder, John Pitts is now the 4th generation of the Pitts family to farm here – a long heritage!

Embracing organic farming

One of the boldest decisions made by John was to move to organic farming in 1998. At the time some farmers were beginning to switch to partial organic practices, but John believed wholeheartedly that how we farm matters, and began the process of wholesale change. It wasn’t easy; becoming organic is not an overnight step. Like many farms, Woodhorn had been managed using traditional methods, which had taken a toll on the soil quality, a legacy that couldn’t be reversed overnight. Today, we’ve established our own systems and supply chains that enable us to farm organically, but these weren’t in place from the start. The transition required time, new partnerships, and a complete shift in both our practices and mindset. And that’s an important point: organic farming isn’t just a method – it’s a way of life.

Since those early days we’ve embraced organic practices, and become part of Organic Herd, a collective of British farmers who champion organic farming and work together to supply supermarkets and supply chains. Our relationship with Organic Herd has also seen us adopt other measurement standards, such as monitoring and measuring our own water and crop inputs and outputs. Today our dairy herd is 96% self-sufficient, and our arable crops are farmed with a zero bare soil approach, where we plant and harvest year round to ensure there is always a ‘green bridge’ holding nutrients in the soil.

Branching out

As well as developing the farm, John understood the need for diversification. Given the state of the British farming sector, it was clear that alternative sources of income were needed. The first steps were to convert a few of the unused farm buildings into commercial and storage space. It was well received: good office space, with plenty of parking and surrounded by green space, appealed to a number of local firms and today the Woodhorn Business Centre is home to more than 15 companies, with over 27,000 sq ft of space available.

The next step, given the land and space available, was to dedicate areas to green waste recycling. As the concept of green bins took off, enabling homeowners to easily recycle their garden waste, local authorities needed ways to collect and manage this influx. From sites in Tangmere and Runcton, we began recycling local green waste from Hampshire and Sussex into organic, peat-free composts and soils. Endorsement from the Soil Association and others meant our soils were officially recognised for their quality too, and demand for them grew across the horticultural and building sectors.

Establishing Earth Cycle

From this fairly industrial green waste business originated Earth Cycle, our consumer brand, which now supplies gardeners and landscapers up and down the UK with quality garden supplies. We started off supplying our own composts, topsoils, barks and mulches locally, and later online in bulk. As Earth Cycle’s presence grew we added other products – decorative stones for landscaping projects, logs from sustainable British supplies and high quality, British made tools. The pandemic created huge demand for gardening supplies, delivered to people’s homes in bulk, and Earth Cycle became a larger player in the horticulture sector. Today, as Earth Cycle celebrates its 20^th birthday, we are on the cusp of rolling out a brand new look with a refreshed brand and website. We’re also working with a dedicated set of partners to extend our range to better meet the needs of gardeners – adding seeds and gardening essentials including organic feeds, recycled watering cans and eco-friendly pest control products.

Our commitment to conservation, innovation and people and animal welfare has helped drive our business over the past decades, and we’re sure that our next steps will help ensure that our operations remain relevant for a long time to come.