October newsletter
Updated: Nov 3, 2022
National award-winning news, Farm Shop and Farm updates, free mobile farm promotion, new arrivals, and more....
We are National award winners!
We were absolutely thrilled to WIN the British Farming Awards Diversification of the year award earlier this month. Nominations for this came from across the whole of Britain, and the competition was tough, but we did it!
This year has been a total whirlwind with the farm going from strength to strength. We lost Grandad just a few days before it was announced that we were BFA finalists.
This award means a lot as It celebrates the decades of work that David and Sherry started. We continue this work through the introduction of our farm school, passing along knowledge and skills to the future generation.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to our fantastic team, supporters and loyal customers.
Farm Shop Christmas offers
.
On Saturday 29th October we held our popular Spirit of Christmas Tasting day. The shop was busy with customers trying our delicious free range, home produced and locally sourced foods and completing our Christmas Order Forms. Whether you are cooking for 2 or 20, are looking for meat or vegetarian options we have the perfect roast for your Christmas table whatever your budget.
We have also launched our Christmas saver scheme helping you to spread the cost of Christmas. Simply pay a little extra each time you come into the shop and we will put it towards your Christmas order. Support your small local business - we are proud to offer a truly homegrown local Christmas.
Free Mobile Farm promotion - nominations open now!
Exciting news! We are offering a FREE 1 hour Mobile Farm visit to three local community venues or events between November 2022 and January 2023.
As a family-run farm supported by our local community since 1976, we would love to give something back. We know how wonderful animal therapy is and the difference it can make to people. Perhaps one of our local communities has a lunch for elderly or disabled residents and would love a visit from our friendly farm animals? Or a visit to a local care home - our recent visit to Avon Manor Care Home was a prime example of what can be achieved.
To take part in this free offer, all you need to do is like, share and comment on the post on our Facebook page with the name of your nominated venue or event and the 3 nominations with the most votes will win. Nominations need to be within 10miles of our farm and with a maximum number of 40 visitors to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to have a wonderful experience. Nominations will close at 5 pm on Sunday, 13th November, and winners will be announced on Tuesday, 15th November. Good luck.
Farm news - it's breeding time for Harry Herdwick and his wives.
It's that time of year when we select our ewes for breeding. Our rare breed rams, including handsome Harry the Herdwick will be put amongst our chosen ewes ready to produce next year's lambs.
Our rare breed Herdwick, Southdown and Dark Ryland ewes will breed with their respective Rams helping to continue the breed. Our commercial ewes will breed with our Roussin and Texel rams.
It certainly has been a difficult summer with poor grazing due to the dry hot months, but the autumn rain has been very welcome! We have had to top up the rams with extra feed to ensure that they are in the best possible condition for the tup (ready for breeding) but now that the grazing is better, they are happy! We are glad to say that they are looking good and we hope for a productive lambing season. Watch out for our Lambing Live dates in March 2023!
Our Farm School children have been excited to help with the sorting process herding the sheep into the barn, running them through the race and sorting them into separate fields.
The children learn so much from this hands-on experience. As well as sorting the sheep for breeding, they also helped choose sheep to take to the upcoming Prime Stock Show. Several Farm School children will be showing the sheep - we wish them the best of luck and will update you on their progress.
New arrivals - clever Freeda.
Freeda, our beautiful Sow that we rescued earlier this year has given birth to the most gorgeous litter of 6 piglets.
These little beauties are a firm favourite with our farm school children, who enjoy watching them grow. The runt of the litter is little 'Potato' we are hoping to keep him as a farm pig that the children can continue to care for.
Live nativity announcement.
Christmas is creeping closer and these two beauties will soon be starring in a live Nativity! They will be joined by some of our other Farm Friends - watch this space for more information.
Thank you to all our Dinky Farmers - the last session until March 2023
This week saw the last of our Dinky Farmer sessions for 2022. We have had over 200 toddlers attend our Dinky Farmer sessions since May, all having the chance to get hands-on with our animals feeding, grooming, cuddling and learning about their care. They even had crafts to make and take home singing and story time. We can't wait to welcome our Dinky Farmers back in March 2023.