One Cotswold farmer has taken the initiative and begun turning his farm into a carbon neutral business - and a haven for wildlife, too, writes ELIZABETH EDWARDS

Jonathan Brunyee has a clear view of what farmers can do for the environment since taking over the tenancy of Conygree Farm on National Trust land in the Cotswolds.

"Agriculture has a major role to play in the climate change debate," said Jonathan. "It is a major user of fossil fuels and producer of greenhouse gases such as CO2 and methane.

"However, we believe that the industry can also offer solutions. Farmers can lead the way in energy efficiency, produce renewable fuels, such as biomass crops, tap into solar and wind energy sources, act as carbon sinks, compost waste material and help build good local supply chains to help reduce food miles."

With the full support of the Cotswolds Conservation Board, he is building a carbon neutral farm, where potential hazards to the environment are counter-balanced by benefits.

"We are not big energy uses at Conygree, but we, like everyone, must do our bit. We are currently developing an annual carbon budget, with the help of a student at the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, for the farm business. This calculates all the energy and CO2 we use and produce, and compares this with the carbon we absorb each year in our soil, grassland, trees and hedgerows.

"Our calculations show that our lamb and pork enterprises are now carbon neutral. We are now looking at the arable side of the business and, if this shows a carbon deficit, we shall then invest in additional tree-planting and other schemes to ensure that our farming activities do not contribute to CO2 global warming.

"If this work proves of interest, we will look at ways of helping other farms to become carbon neutral."

Jonathan Brunyee and Jill Havard and their two small children moved to Conygree three years ago. Both are from farming backgrounds, Jonathan in Nottinghamshire and Jill in Herefordshire.

Jonathan certainly has the academic credentials in addition to his practical knowldge of farming. He studied for a degree at agricultural college before taking a master's degree in environmental management. He worked as a farming and conservation advisor for the National Trust for ten years, the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and the Peak District National Park, and then in Australia, where he was able to observe large-scale farming.

"I think British farming is the most efficient and the most animal welfare-friendly that I have seen. And from an environmental point of view, because we don't have a lot of land, it is something that we value."

Having in 2004 decided that he would now prefer to be practising what he had been preaching, Jonathan set about making a return to practical farming.

"It was enjoyable giving advice, but there is nothing like doing things for yourself."

He took on the tenancy of Conygree, of which the land forms the background to the historic National Trust's Lodge Park at Sherborne. It covers 180 acres.

"Our vision for the farm is to develop an environmentally-sustainable mixed farming enterprise. The system respects flora, fauna, landscape, heritage, air, soil and water. Although commercially smart and profitable, livestock numbers and crop yields do not drive the business.

"As tenants, we wish to work in partnership with the National Trust to help deliver their conservation objectives, becoming an example of successful new entrants in a changing agricultural climate. We also see Conygree as a place for innovation, education and demonstration."

Jonathan and Jill are grateful that when the tenancy of the farm became vacant, the NT chose to see it remain and develop as a traditional working farm, rather than going the way of so many others in the area into large, intensive arable units, smallholdings or accommodation.

The land they took over had been lightly farmed in the recent past, so it was very good for wildlife. It is a haven for birds, some of which are still in decline in the UK. They include the corn bunting, skylark and tree sparrow. Adding to the variety are a pair of barn owls, which are seen regularly hunting over the field margins and rough grass, buzzards, sparrowhawks and red kites.

Quail, even if not seen, can be heard during the summer.

Every aspect of wildlife welfare is taken into consideration. Measures include the planting of a hectare of wild bird cover, containing kale, sunflower and millet, the leaving of 2km of grassy field margins around arable fields, the reversion of 50 hectares of former arable land to meadow and pasture, using native seed, and the planting of more than 1,000 native trees and shrubs. This tree planting is kept in small areas to maintain the open 'wold' character of the farm.

Every year since their arrival, the stubble of half the 20-hectare crop of barley has been left for 12 months as bird habitat, bare plots for skylarks are left within the arable crops, blocks of set-aside grass and some margins are left untouched over the winter, and cutting of hay is left late, until the flowers and grasses have set seed. Hedges are left uncut for three years or more and then cut only in rotation and after winter but before spring. As a result, birds can benefit from the winter rations provided by the berries.

Some birds have their homes provided for them. Barn owl boxes, and boxes for tree sparrows have been erected. Many small creatures benefit from ancient timber in which to find a retreat, and for this reason fallen trees and deadwood are left in situ wherever possible.

A local heritage is being restored by the return of the sheep to graze the Cotswold countryside, but numbers of all livestock on the farm are kept low in order to avoid over-grazing and soil erosion.

The local landscape tradition is also being maintained by the restoration of 300m of dry stone wall and the following of original field boundaries.

As well as the sheep there are, appropriately, Gloucester Old Spot pigs and a suckler herd of Hereford cattle, reared for beef. All have free-range outdoor lives, in most cases being both bred and reared on the farm.

For both their own welfare and to keep down the number of food miles, the slaughterhouse to which they are eventually taken is the nearest possible. Food miles are also minimised in the business of meat sales. Customers can call in if they live nearby, or Jonathan will undertake local deliveries.

There is also an Internet box scheme for deliveries made by overnight courier - nationwide. Orders arrive in a National Trust box made of recycled cardboard insulated with wool from a flock of Herdwick sheep in Cumbria. The boxes can either be returned or put to another use by the customer.

Details of Conygree Farm, which is over the Oxfordshire-Gloucestershire border, are available on the www.conygreefarm.co.uk website.