Animals
We are a small diverse farm of mixed perennial pastures, meadow and woodland. It suits a diversity of species, which is now what you find throughout the land here.
Pigs
We keep Mangalitza pigs at the farm, producing in the region of 30-40 pigs per year that sustain the restaurant and the shop in various forms. They spend the majority of their life outside in the fields and woodlands, foraging and grazing. They are fed a supplementary feed of fermented grains and peas from Fred Price at Gothelney Farm, a shining light in a new wave of regenerative agriculture in the UK. He also supplies our poultry feed and supplies the bakery with heritage grain for our bread.
We keep Mangalitza pigs at the farm, producing in the region of 30-40 pigs per year that sustain the restaurant and the shop in various forms. They spend the majority of their life outside in the fields and woodlands, foraging and grazing. They are fed a supplementary feed of fermented grains and peas from Fred Price at Gothelney Farm, a shining light in a new wave of regenerative agriculture in the UK. He also supplies our poultry feed and supplies the bakery with heritage grain for our bread.
Chickens
We keep Naked Neck chickens, a slow growing French breed that produces excellent meat birds at 4 months of age. The Naked Neck is technically a sub-species of turkey, naturally devoid of feathers on its head and neck, revered for its meat across France. Our chickens live predominantly between a large area of coppiced woodland, and perennial herbal ley in our open Copse field. They are fed an organic soya-free diet of grains and pulses grown by Fred Price.
Cows
Graham Dawe now farms the valley with us. Having visited his farm in 2020 and seen what generational knowledge combined with a life spent dedicated to establishing biodiversity can bring to a landscape, we began discussing the viability of a farmshare at Coombeshead. Graham can be found each week moving our Dexter cattle through the valley. They are grazed as they used to be, moving regularly, improving our soils and pasture. They live outside 365 days a year, a rare thing in this day and age, grazing on mature grass, hedgerows and trees, along with species rich haylage. They live 100% from what they can take from the land with no grain or concentrates in their diet.
Sheep
The Romney sheep are often grazed behind the cows, being particularly adept at dealing with brush and bracken. We make use of the sheep throughout their lifetimes, not particularly swayed by spring lamb over hogget or mutton.