World leaders were greeted by a blaze of purple as they descended on the G7 summit this week – thanks to a National Trust farm that has embraced new practices.

Changes in land management at Godrevy Farm, on the north west Cornish coast, are resulting in benefits to nature with the introduction of the super pollinating Phacelia into its arable and green crops.

As well as attracting wildlife, breaks down and acts as fertile manure for follow on crops.

Visible from Carbis Bay – where leaders met this week – the farm is an example of how nature and farming can work hand-in-hand to help halt species decline, improve levels of biodiversity and tackle climate change.

It is also an example of how farming can be sustainable, productive and profitable for farmers.

Three years ago the conservation charity worked with the tenants, to make changes which aligned more with the Trust’s ambitious plans to help restore nature and reverse the decline in wildlife on the land in its care, and to ensure that the land was farmed in a way that was more sympathetic to its coastal setting and the surrounding Sites of Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

Changes included planting wild seed margins to bring more wildlife back to the heart of the farm, and to provide wildlife rich corridors linking to the surrounding coastal habitats; restoring flower rich meadows, planting trees and making changes to the management of the Cornish hedges that bisect the farm.

The striking purple Phacelia crop sown across 51 acres of the 175 acre farm will be seen by visitors to the area over the coming weeks.

South West Farmer: The stunning sight. Picture: Steve HaywoodThe stunning sight. Picture: Steve Haywood

Phacelia improves soil condition by helping to increase stores of soil carbon and creating better soil structure, and is a rich food source particularly for invertebrates such as butterflies and bees.

Steve Sudworth, lead ranger for the National Trust says: “It is vital that we halt the alarming decline in nature[3]. Although our work at Godrevy might seem small when considering the huge scale of the issues we face nationally and globally on balancing food production and the nature and climate crisis, but it’s changes like these that can start to provide solutions that deliver for nature, climate and people.

“Godrevy headland is a botanically diverse area which has always been a great place for wildlife with many species of birds, reptiles and invertebrates. Since making changes to our land management on the farm we’ve seen a rapid improvement in biodiversity with increased sightings of chough and silver-studded blue butterflies and we expect to see a marked increase in bee species and breeding birds in the coming years.

“It’s been great to work with our tenants to make these positive changes happen in what has been a very challenging year for us all.”

“Our ambition is bold, to make Godrevy a real haven for wildlife and a place for people to reconnect with nature.”

South West Farmer: The Phacelia. Picture: Steve Haywood The Phacelia. Picture: Steve Haywood

Steve adds: “The purple haze of Phacelia across the farm fields in June is a great way for our visitors to see how our land management is changing. It gives a dramatic splash of colour to the area, which on closer inspection is buzzing with insects and swooping swallows. Godrevy is and always has been an important place for people to visit and connect with the landscape and natural world and we are very excited to bring more nature into people’s lives when they visit here.”