The Sustainable South Action Group visited Halnaker Hill Farm for its annual netwalking meeting.
The group was welcomed by John Yeend, Kate Jerome and Will Atkinson to the 330-acre estate. John shared with the group about the farm’s transformation, history, ecological regeneration and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) programme, as well as Halnaker Hill Farm’s transformation from an intensive arable farm into one of the UK’s largest BNG habitat banks. The regeneration project, led by owner Robert Langmead, is restoring habitats while maintaining a working farm, creating more than 850 BNG units to support sustainable development across the region.
Following the meeting, Will and John led the group on a tour of the farm, answering questions and providing opportunities for networking while taking in breathtaking views across the Central South region. The walk offered views of the historic Chichester Cathedral, the sunny Isle of Wight and, in the distance, the silhouette of Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower.
The walk highlighted the diversity and natural beauty of the Central South region, reinforcing why it is such a great place to live and work. This was reflected by the presentation from Sue Littlemore on the University of Southampton’s PhD research into the region.
Sue outlined the University’s civic programme and its role in supporting regional priorities through collaborative research. University of Southampton’s PhD researcher, Miranda Willis is leading an evidence-based research project exploring the question: “Why is the Central South a great place to live and work?”.
Developed in partnership with Business South, the research aims to provide an evidence base for the long-held view that the Central South’s unique combination of thriving urban centres and exceptional natural environments makes it one of the UK’s most attractive places to live, work and invest.
Although the research is still ongoing, early findings suggest that a healthy natural environment supports employee wellbeing, business resilience and long-term economic stability. To contribute to the University of Southampton’s research, please complete the survey: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=-XhTSvQpPk2-iWadA62p2GbeAdjS3LVDm5oOZ6l_WVdUNTVWWFA3TTYwREEzTzhGT1dVTDdHWU5ISS4u&route=shorturl.
“I thought today was a very interesting and unique opportunity to experience a farming environment we’ve never been exposed to before. There were lots of interesting discussions, and I can’t wait to hear what Sue’s report says when it is published.”
Rich Knight (Ridge), Sustainable South Co-Chair
The Chairs of Sustainable South, Dan Walster (AtkinsRéalis) and Rich Knight (Ridge), also announced the publication of the group’s Introduction to Scope 1, 2 & 3 Emissions document on the Sustainable South page on the Business South’s website: https://businesssouth.org/projects/sustainable-south/
The guide is the group’s first deliverable against its initial KPI on the journey to becoming Net Zero with Nature. Designed for SMEs and subcontractors, it provides practical guidance on how, what and why businesses should measure and report Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. It also demonstrates the group’s commitment to promoting sustainable business practices and reducing carbon emissions across the Central South.
Read the document here: https://businesssouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Sustainable-South-KPI-1-Introduction-to-Scope-12-and-3-Emissions-3.pdf
“Today was really insightful. It was brilliant to get the group together, have some really interesting discussions and then enjoy a fantastic walk hosted at Halnaker Hill Farm. It was a great opportunity to see first-hand how nature-based solutions can support both the environment and business.”
Dan Walster (AtkinsRéalis), Sustainable South Co-Chair
