Natural England returns to Cereals 2025 with a forward-looking showcase that reflects its growing focus on sustainable agronomy, soil resilience, and integrated land management.  

Visitors can explore practical plots, including herbal leys, autumn and spring-sown cover crops, bird food mixes, and an innovative living mulch system. “Our goal is to help farmers get the crops right first," says Mark Taylor, senior Catchment Sensitive Farming officer for Yorkshire and Humber. "The scheme payments are helpful, but the real benefit is long-term resilience and profitability.”  

A standout is the living mulch demonstration, featuring a low-vigour clover mix that sits beneath the cash crop - be it wheat, oilseed rape, or barley. These clovers fix nitrogen, suppress weeds like blackgrass and broadleaved species, and maintain ground cover, all without competing significantly with the main crop. Post-harvest, they can be retained as a winter cover or topped to make way for the next cereal, forming a dynamic and low-input rotational option with added nitrogen and soil benefits. 

New summer cover crop mixes will also feature, designed to be sown in spring or after a crop failure. “We’ve traditionally focused on autumn-sown covers, but there’s growing demand for something that bridges the summer-to-autumn gap,” Mr Taylor explains. “These mixes - rich in legumes, buckwheat, phacelia, and tillage radish - support soil biology, scavenge phosphorus, reduce nutrient losses, and improve tilth and carbon levels before autumn drilling.” 

The herbal leys demonstrate how multifunctional cropping can reintroduce livestock into arable systems, build fertility, and enhance biodiversity while integrating into commercial rotations. “It’s all about wider rotations, better cost control, and ultimately, survival,” says Mr Taylor. “Margins are tight. Resilient systems are no longer just a nice-to-have; they’re becoming essential.” 

Despite another challenging spring season, the plots are showing promise. “It’s been dry, but the crops are holding up well. Good establishment is key,” he notes. “Put in the time and planning at the start, and the rest is good management. From there, things get a lot easier.” 

Natural England is also using the event to offer free, independent Defra-funded advice through the Catchment Sensitive Farming initiative, helping farmers assess their soil types, tweak seed mixes, and build workable systems that benefit both the environment and the bottom line.