| INTERVIEW - CHRIS MUSGRAVE
The Final Word
Research in practice Winning the recent Purdey Award and implementing GWCT advice is all in a day’s work for Chris Musgrave. Peter Thompson meets him hris Musgrave is the estate manager for the Temple Estate and oversees all aspects of the farm and land management, including working closely with head keeper Phil Holborow. The Estate recently won the Gold Purdey Award for transforming a 2,000-acre prairie-style arable farm into a haven for birds and wildlife. Over a period of almost 30 years, 23 miles of new hedgerows have been planted and over a million trees and nine new dew ponds have been constructed. Chris was also one of the key partners who helped put the Marlborough Downs Nature Improvement About Area (NIA) together. This is the only NIA Chris that is farmer-led in the country.
What is the best advice you have received?
How has the GWCT’s advice helped both the shoot and the farm?
How many farms are now involved and what are the plans for the future?
C
When Konrad Goess-Saurau bought the Temple Estate in 1985, he realised its potential as a shooting estate and therefore his vision was to work towards that goal. He engaged the services of good friend and GWCT advisor Ian McCall, who created a blueprint which has basically been followed ever since. I have, if you like, translated these guidelines onto the ground across the estate. What has been the biggest change to the running of the estate since you arrived?
When the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) moved away from paying you for the crops you grew, to paying you for the hectarage of land that you manage instead. This meant that the large areas of downland on the estate now started to receive a payment, which when coupled with top-up payments from the Stewardship schemes, enabled us to manage these downland areas so much better for both the shoot and wildlife in general.
Musgrave in a minute Favourite food? Shepherd’s pie Last book you read? The Lost Child of Philomena Lee – Martin Sixsmith How do you relax? I walk the dog and also love watching rugby Favourite place? Connemara in Ireland Most inspirational person? Konrad Goess-Saurau and my first employer, Richard Lambert of Anglesey Favourite farmland bird? The lapwing
What is your number one priority in running a successful estate?
That’s straightforward. We follow an ethos of profitable farming with a care for the environment. Success brings the chance to spend on the environment and also enables you to have fun and enjoyment in running a thriving estate.
I was once told that you are only as good as yesterday and I try to live by that. Do you think that the Marlborough Downs NIA is making a difference and if so how?
Absolutely. I think we are proving for the first time, that farmer-to-farmer collaboration, as opposed to working in isolation, can really make a huge difference when it comes to managing the environment effectively. I also think that after just a couple of years, we are all working much more closely with the local community, which is another tremendous bonus.
We have a total of 42 farmers involved with the NIA and I, along with others, are attempting to investigate a whole range of ways to keep this unique project going long after the Government sponsored three years is up. What has it meant to win the coveted Purdey Award?
The journey has been to take a blank canvas, to have been inspired by a vision and to see it through to completion. This award acknowledges that we have largely achieved this vision and recognises the wonderful team effort. Can you give your reasons why you think people should join the GWCT?
Yes, the GWCT has very good political contacts and the Government listens to and trusts the organisation because what it says is backed up by first rate, peerreviewed science. Chris is speaking at our farming research conference for conservationists and policy makers in May. See page 22.
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50 | GAMEWISE • SPRING 2014
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