Summer 2025 Newsletter
In this issue, as well as our Estate article, we have an update on the Helping Herts charity campaign.
In this issue, as well as our Estate article, we have an update on the Helping Herts charity campaign.
When buying firewood in the UK, choosing a Woodsure Ready to Burn accredited supplier like The Chaldean Estate (trading as C-Logs) is crucial for both environmental and practical reasons. The Woodsure accreditation ensures that the firewood meets strict standards for moisture content—below 20%—which guarantees cleaner, more efficient burning. Burning wet or unseasoned wood releases more smoke, harmful particulates, and creosote, contributing to air pollution and increased risk of chimney fires. In contrast, Ready to Burn logs produce more heat, reduce emissions, and protect both your appliance and flue system.
C-Logs, under The Chaldean Estate, not only meets these high standards but also exemplifies sustainable, local sourcing. Their commitment to responsible woodland management supports biodiversity, reduces the carbon footprint of transport, and ensures long-term wood fuel supply. Buying from a trusted local supplier like C-Logs also supports rural economies and job creation in the UK forestry sector.
Moreover, government regulations now prohibit the sale of wet wood in small quantities, making accredited suppliers not just the ethical choice, but also the legal one. Using certified firewood is especially important for users of wood-burning stoves and open fires, helping to maintain compliance with Clean Air legislation and future-proof your heating setup.
In short, choosing firewood from a Woodsure Ready to Burn accredited supplier such as C-Logs guarantees quality, safety, environmental responsibility, and legal compliance—all essential for efficient and responsible home heating in the UK.
Summer 2025 will definitely be one to remember with endless days of sunshine and 3 ‘heatwaves’. This has undoubtably been great for ice-cream sales and BBQs, but it has been very challenging for farming and growing. I believe we are now officially in a drought, and after a very warm August Bank Holiday weekend, there is still no sign of significant rain in the forecast.
Winter crops looked great as we came through spring with good coverage and limited disease and weed problems. Spring crops went into good seed beds and germinated well. Sadly, as we know since March, we only really had 3 good wet periods to water everything, probably about 25% of expected summer rainfall. This has led to crops failing to grow as well as hoped, lower yields, by some 20% and much reduced straw.
Harvest started some 2 weeks earlier than usual and was wrapped up across the whole Gilston Crop Management Partnership area of 4000 acres by 15th August, possibly a record. Farm staff will have 2 weekends off in August this year, also usually unheard of.
While yields have been supressed by 20% and prices have also fallen by a similar 20%. Cereals are a world market commodity and there are still cheaper products that can be imported. This raises most UK farmer’s hackles as we have very high standards of production legislated for in the UK. It’s very likely not the case for imported foodstuffs. If you can, do endeavour to source British products and read labels and ask questions, especially when eating out.
However, plenty of sunshine isn’t all bad as disease levels were easily controlled and quality is good. All our wheat meets the milling specification so should attract a premium. Unfortunately, this applies to most farms and so the premium will be knocked back. Our oats and barley should also reach milling and malting specs.
Very quickly the countryside patchwork has changed from golden ripe fields to an autumnal cultivated look. Most fields for winter drilling have had one cultivation. Depending on the crop they may have another before drilling, which is set to start at the end of September. We desperately need some rain to allow for good germination. The soil is so dry and turns to dust when moved. I suggest we need at least 50mm in the next month.
We have been working hard to build stocks of firewood logs. Currently we have some 400 bags in stock ready for the autumn period. We anticipate strong demand for our certified home-grown hardwood logs. Do make sure to get your order in promptly, our driver Brian is looking forward to seeing our usual customers again. We are also exploring sales of sawdust and woodchip for garden mulch. Do get in touch if either are of interest www.c-logs.com
We are exploring entering our woodlands into DEFRAs Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme. Much of our woodland is ancient semi natural woodland and will benefit from additional management. Some of that includes squirrel and deer management, essential to allow for coppice regrowth. Deer numbers in particular are too high, and the effects of browsing are very apparent and reduce the variety of fauna and flora one might expect.
We anticipate this year’s thinning and coppicing will occur in October, as we had to change contractors this year.
HoundBeam Dog Chews use the smaller timber to create natural hornbeam dog chews. Please visit houndbeam.com to see what is available. Order online for home delivery. As with our firewood these are taken from hornbeam trees on the estate.
Our vines have grown very well given the warm sunny conditions. Early bunch counts show a good harvest but again water is needed to help fill the grapes. As with the cereals, I anticipate the yields falling back but quality improving. Will 2025 be an English Vintage year?
The sunshine has reduced the level of fungal disease, so our spray programme has been reduced. Of course, there is always a counter to that and wasps and spotted wing drosophila are 2 pests which can cause plenty of damage. We are keeping a close eye on both.
We anticipate harvest being the end of September/ early October and we are using a machine harvester for the first time. Due to withdrawal periods the spray programme is almost complete for 2025. Again, most of our grapes are committed to Bolney Wine Estates in Sussex to be used in English sparkling wine production.
Our new equipment has proved worthwhile although we have suffered a number of breakdowns with our tractor, which is hugely frustrating due to the loss of productivity.
As we move into autumn most of the farm will be cultivated and then drilled with winter crops. Land for spring cropping will have a green cover crop drilled to provide overwinter cover.
The vine season will be over and we will be undertaking winter task tidying and repairing areas in the vineyards.
Due to the significant pressure on farm incomes, we have submitted planning applications to help provide alternative sources of income. We are actively encouraged to do so by DEFRA and wider government. We are hoping to develop a small 2.5mw solar park at Chaldean farm, an additional grainstore to allow for greater efficiencies at harvest, including storage for our farming partners, and we have launched a consultation on a residential development on Bromley Lane.
The next Helping Herts event is The Great Big Walk for Herts taking place on Saturday 27th September. If you are interested in taking part or donating to this event you can find more info here Great Big Walk for Herts | Helping Herts
All money raised will go to the 12 children's & young people's charities that Helping Herts Supports and will be match funded!