Smell from Organic Matter on Bathurst Estate
Etta Howard has kindly been in touch with the Bathurst Estate to discuss the matter of unpleasant smell emitted from organic matter. Bellow is the letter she received from them:
“Thank you for your time and input on the phone yesterday. Please rest assured your points and concerns have been noted and taken into consideration.
As discussed, it is unlikely that spreading will take place for another 4 years on the land around Daglingworth, due to it being applied rotationally. In the meantime, we are also investigating other sources of organic manure to use as a fertiliser and soil conditioner. Regrettably, all organic manures produce some odour when spread but have large benefits to soil health as detailed below. The timing of spreading is somewhat dictated by when crops are harvested (summertime) and when contractors can arrive to spread, although weekends are completely avoided.
Biosolids are widely used as an organic fertiliser by a numerous farms in the Cotswolds, not just The Estate. The reason for this is the soil type “Cotswold Brash” can be deficient in Phosphate and organic matter which biosolids help increase.
The Biosolids we use have been treated and are of no potential harm to humans or animals. The strict regulations and controls also ensure that no potential harm can occur to the environment. All the fields planned for the application have been soil tested and their suitability has been checked with the Environment Agency.
Regrettably, there is an odour when the Biosolids are being delivered and when spread. Cultivation post spreading greatly reduces the odour and is usually completed within 6 hours of the product being spread
The recycling of Biosolids has come about due to changes in the Water Framework Directive. In the past it was acceptable for Biosolids to be taken out into the River Seven estuary and ‘let go’, this practice was rightly banned in 1998. Biosolids can, in some instances, be disposed of to landfill sites; however, the government has introduced measures to limit and reduce levels of organic matter that are disposed of in this way. So landfill is not a sustainable option, the water companies therefore require land on which to spread the Biosolids. No doubt you will have seen in the press that water companies still need to try harder not to pollute watercourses and the use of biosolids as an agricultural fertiliser is part of the solution.
The landowners/farmers purchase the Biosolids from the water companies thereby providing a service to them and a benefit for the environment. At the same time the biosolids will provide nutrients and organic matter for the following crop, which in this case is winter wheat grown primarily as a livestock feed. The use of Biosolids enables less artificial fertiliser to be used which offsets the use of fossil fuels used in the manufacture of artificial fertilisers. This greatly reduces the farms carbon footprint, which is becoming more closely monitored.
If Biosolids are to be used in the future we will notify the Parish Council 24hrs beforehand, I am sorry this did not happen in this instance.
THE BATHURST ESTATE”