Latest News

Wye Community Farm Meat Boxes WCF beef and lamb boxes are now available, please see our order form.

1 June

We are pleased to report that a grant has been received from Kent Community Foundation, through their Grassroots Grants Fund, to support our after school club. The club meets every Monday during term time and new members are always welcome, contact us for further details.

14 June

The WCF flock has been shorn; a welcome relief for the ewes now that summer has finally arrived. With some quality Portland and Dorset fleeces to hand, we are now starting a new group where our resident expert Della will give lessons in all aspects of spinning. If you are interested in attending please contact us for details.

 

18 May

Are you handy with a camera? If so get yourself up to the Devils kneading Trough and capture some images of the WCF herd of British White Cattle. Large cash prizes are on offer in a National competition looking for the best photos of native breeds carrying out conservation grazing. See http://www.grazingadvicepartnership.org.uk/news/gap_photo_competition
_free_to_enter_competition_focusing_on_native_breeds.html

For details of an open day in June, see our diary page

 

27 April

Our lambs and calves are now out on the Devils Kneading Trough, enjoying the spring sunshine.

 

26 March

The WCF herd of British White cattle are currently calving, and they recently gave us an eventful night. First Kalamar produced twins, which we found shivering in the straw as the whole event had obviously freaked this first-time mum out so much that she didn’t know she was meant to lick them dry. After plenty of rubbing down with straw and feeding with colostrum from a bottle they began to look a bit livelier, though it was to be several hours before they had the strength to stand. Whilst all this was going on Pentaphone gave birth at midnight, quietly getting on with it and having her calf up and suckling within half an hour.

As the photos show all are now doing well, though the twins do look dirty as they keep going up to the milk bar through the back door and getting a pat on the back from Kalamar. Thanks are due to Mike and Charlie, two experienced stockmen living in Wye who came out to help on the night.

Wye Community Farm will be taking some of their new born lambs to the Wye Farmers Market this Saturday. Prizes will be on offer for 'guess the weight' and 'guess the breed' competitions. 

15 March

On Saturday we held a very successful lambing day for the members of the Farm’s after school club. Graham, one of the club’s regular tutors, was delighted when one of the ewes proceeded to go into labour just as the event commenced. He was then able to lead a highly instructive session covering all aspects of ewe and lamb husbandry, with his attentive pupils clearly taking much from the day.

The costs of running this increasingly popular club are covered by the subscriptions from WCF members; for details of how to join see the membership page

 

 

3 March

Lambing has got off to a successful start, with our Dorset ewes lambing in March followed by the Portland’s in April. Pictured is Josh, a keen member of our after school club, making sure some new-born twins get their colostrum.

4 February

Our four legged friends at Sylvan Environmental have just done another three days timber extraction, as a part of our SITA trust funded grassland restoration project. Yser and Jeton are Ardennes horses, a breed ideally suited to the skilful and physically demanding task of pulling Ash trees up the steep slopes of the Wye Nature Reserve.

8 January

White out! The stock don’t mind it at all, but for the humans it makes getting round the icy lanes to do the feeding a sometimes hairy experience.

22 December

Our next batch of pork boxes will be available early in the New Year, to order please return our order form.

The photo shows the pigs being tended by Abigail, who is helping out at the farm as a part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award.

16 December

A grant from the Kent Downs AONB unit has allowed Wye Community Farm to install a solar panel on the barn roof. This means the barn now has lighting to allow the WCF after school club to carry on throughout the winter months – the photo shows the club members making full use of the lights on Monday evening.

The WCF after school club is free of charge to any children in Wye and Brook wishing to attend, and is funded by the WCF membership. For details of how to become a member and support this work, see membership

 

10 December

If you go for a walk to the top of Pickersdane Scrubs – opposite the Devils Kneading Trough Restaurant – you will see that the woodland is now really starting to be opened up as the felling continues. The picture shows our contractors taking a well earned rest this afternoon. This work to clear the Ash and so recreate grassland for biodiversity enhancement is funded by The Sita Trust (www.sitatrust.org.uk).

11 December

Thanks to a grant from the Kent Downs AONB unit, we have installed solar panels on the barn. This will provide lighting to allow the after school club to continue throughout the winter months, as well as helping out at lambing time. The photo shows Chris from CPL Energy Systems installing the panels. (www. cplenergysystems.co.uk)

1 December

This Autumn WCF took on further grazing land, on the right as you enter Wye over the level crossing. Being on the flood plain this ground is very different from the nature reserve and will provide valuable grazing in dry weather, although the recent torrential rain has led to our sheep having to head for the high ground.

 8 December

Our cattle are now enjoying supplementary feed on the hill, before being housed in the New Year for calving.

23 November

PRODUCED IN KENT “TASTE OF KENT” AWARDS 2009

Please go online today and vote for Wye Farmers Market as best Kent Farmers Market of 2009 at www.producedinkent.co.uk

10 October

The recent fine weather has allowed a good start to be made to the Ash felling to be carried out this winter. This work is a part of our SITA Trust funded project, aimed at restoring and improving the grassland on the Wye NNR.

 

3 October

The rams were turned in to our Poll Dorset ewes today. We are using Rodney the Southdown ram donated by a supporter, and his apprentice Del Boy, a Dorset Horn ram lamb retained from our own lambing this season. Rodney and Del Boy have had different coloured raddle paste applied, so that it can be seen that both are working. As you can see they attracted a good deal of attention from the ladies as soon as they left the trailer…..

22 September

As a part of our Saturday morning work parties, volunteers now have the chance to learn new wool craft skills; spinning, weaving, felt making. The photo shows some of the products made from the wool of our Poll Dorset and Portland sheep.

7 September

The Kings Head is holding a Wye Community Farm evening on 16 September; see Diary for details.

Also, Lukehurst Farm Meats are now selling WCF beef alongside their own produce. Visit their farm shop at Money Tree Farm, Naccolt, Tn25 5NU, open every Saturday.

 

1 September

A neighbouring farm is producing thatching straw, and our after school club members spent a glorious summers evening gleaning sheaves of corn for our pigs and chickens.

 

27 August

The Wye Community Farm AGM is on 19 September; see Diary for details.

 

20 August

We are pleased to announce that WCF has received a significant funding boost from the SITA Trust. Full details can be found on www.sitatrust.org.uk

 

13 August

An important part of our tenancy of the Wye National Nature Reserve is to maintain the chalk grassland upon which rare and endangered species depend. Last year Natural England cleared a large area of scrub that had developed due to undergrazing, and the photos show our cattle now grazing the regrowth to give the grassland a chance to re-establish.

7 August

Our current batch of pigs are ‘growing like weeds’, seen here tucking into outgrade courgettes from Ripple Farm organics.

29 July

We have recently established a small flock of Portland Sheep, currently five ewes and their lambs, to run alongside our main flock of Dorset Horn/ Poll Dorset sheep. The Portland is an ancient primitive breed, from which it is believed the Dorset Horn was developed.

20 July

Sian and Wye Crown Ava had a very successful time at the Kent County Show, returning with an armful of rosettes. Here they are being judged against all other class winners in the Young Farmers supreme championship on the Sunday.

10 July

Amongst our first beef box customers was the Kings Head in Church St, Wye, where it is hoped that WCF produce will become a regular feature on the menu. We were delighted last night when a couple who had just eaten in the restaurant came round to the bar to say how much they had enjoyed their steak. Here are some pictures of a typical beef box contents:

30th June

Our ‘young farmers’ had a busy evening helping with the shearing and foot trimming.

22 June

Orders are now being taken for WCF beef boxes, for further information please contact us

12 June

Some pictures of the WCF cattle and sheep, enjoying the evening sunshine

8 June

Checking the stock on the nature reserve, we chanced upon this nest (which our resident ornithologist says is either a Meadow Pippit or Skylark). Being just a few yards from a gateway there was a danger of the nest being trodden on, so we shut the cattle out of that field for a few days until the chicks had successfully flown the nest.

1 June

On Saturday 4 July, Natural England are holding a festival on the Wye NNR. As a part of the wide range of activities taking place on day, WCF will be running charcoal making and horse drawn timber demonstrations. For full details of the event see our Diary page.

11 May

A grant from the Kent Downs AONB unit has allowed WCF to purchase a charcoal kiln. As with our firewood enterprise, producing charcoal will allow us to add value to timber harvested on the NNR and so create employment and training opportunities. The photos show the kiln being fired for the first time this weekend.

5 May

This little piggy went to market…..or, more accurately, to our local, family run abattoir. We have just marketed our first pork, and the positive feedback from customers means that we will now be ordering more weaners (eight week old piglets) from our local British Saddleback breeder.

By working in this way with local farmers and abattoirs, our customers’ money is ploughed back into the local rural economy rather than being lost to distant supermarkets and global corporations.

13 April

New life at Easter. Throughout the lambing season, a rota of WCF volunteers have been checking the lambing shed every few hours. The importance of this close attention was demonstrated on Sunday morning, when one of these lambs was found to have made a failed bid to enter the world head first. The correct presentation is front feet and head coming together; with one or both legs back the lamb can get stuck at the shoulders but with the head delivered, with strangulation often ensuing. Swift intervention saw a safe delivery with a twin quickly following, as you can see both are now fine.

Here are the first of our lambs, now turned out to pasture and enjoying the Easter sunshine. We will be at the Wye Farmers Market with some of the WCF flock this coming Saturday. Come along to take part in ‘guess the name’ and ‘guess the weight’ competitions, with a years WCF membership and Wye Farmers Market gift vouchers on offer as prizes.

7 April

As you can see, lambing is now in full swing:

25 March

Pictured are Wye Crown Ava and Wye Crown Analese, the two heifer calves born into the WCF herd this spring. Between them is Officer Dibble, who has just arrived to spend the summer in Wye on a ‘busman’s holiday’. We have hired Dibble from the Bridge Homestead herd in Pulborough, from whom we purchased our first British Whites last year.

16 March

WCF volunteers recently attended a lambing course, organised by Livestock Health South East and facilitated by Westpoint veterinary group. The photo shows Ian the vet giving instruction in lambing technique with his dummy ewe (patent pending).

Our ewes are now housed ready for lambing to commence on 28 March. Whilst there are arguments in favour of lambing outside, the healthy wildlife population on the Wye NNR means that on balance the lambs should get a better start if inside for their first few days.

19 February

WCF have formed a positive partnership with Kent Probation Service, with members of the Community Payback scheme assisting in harvesting timber for our log enterprise.

11 February

As you can see, our stock took the recent snowy weather in their stride. The calf is Wye Crown Ava, our new arrival and the first calf to be born into the WCF herd.

12th January 2009

As you can see from the photos, two new enterprises have been introduced in the last few weeks. WCF volunteers have first call on the eggs; to get involved in our work parties on Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons contact us. (Pork to follow!)

27th December

Gathering winter fu-u-el

Seasons greetings from all at Wye Community Farm, and best wishes for 2009.

16 December

WCF have taken on management of a further parcel of the Wye NNR, mainly grazing but also a small area of woodland The photos show our cattle on this new ground (just across the road from the Devils Kneading Trough Restaurant).

Separately, we have also been invited to graze further blocks of private land in Wye and Brook. This means that in total WCF is now managing over 80 acres, on behalf of Natural England and five private landowners.

27 November

These 4 lambs went on their final journey yesterday. We use a local family run abattoir, meaning ‘food miles’ and stress levels are kept to an absolute minimum.

Almost all our lambs are now sold, all to local residents, with just 4 left to slaughter in the New Year. Additionally we have kept 8 ewe lambs, to enter the breeding flock next year.

20 November

The search to find buildings to operate from has reached a successful conclusion. We moved in to our new home last weekend; the two photos below show WCF volunteers beginning work tidying the barn, and the view of The Crown from the barn doors.

This gives us a base to operate from, and somewhere in the dry for our work parties to carry out winter tasks such as logging. The barn will also provide us with housing for some of our livestock, although most of the cattle will be outwintered on the nature reserve.

With the barn giving us the opportunity to develop a wider range of activities, WCF work parties are now being held twice a week; see Diary to get involved.

17 November

We are pleased to report that two grants have recently been secured to further develop the Wye Community Farm.

The Co-operative group (CWS) Ltd have provided a business development grant, to allow us to put together a long term business plan and financial model for the WCF.
The Kent Downs AONB Unit have provided funding to allow us to develop the woodland management side of our operations, such as log and charcoal production.

Many thanks to both organisations for their valuable support.

11th November

Derek the Dorset Ram has come to stay with our ewes for a few weeks. All being well, we will see the fruits of Derek’s labours next April.

6th September
Community Picnic

On the 6th September, Wye Community Farm and Wye Farmers Market worked together to hold a family picnic on top of the Downs.

Residents and visitors to Wye bought picnic food at the fabulous Wye Farmers Market, then joined us at the Devil's Kneading Trough, Wye for a family picnic. The children really enjoyed the face painting and storytelling in the tipi. Damian Green, MP also visited us to talk about local food and farming.

30 August

We have been busy in the last few days carting straw – purchased from a neighbour – for winter bedding (for anyone wondering about the novel roof on the trailer, it doubles as the stage for the Wye Christmas street party).



28 July

Saturday’s open day was a great success, with much interest in Frankie and her horses. We will be clearing timber on the NNR throughout the coming winter for firewood, and hope to get the Natural Traction team back in again to assist with this work.





16 July

Here are Kalamar and Sian being judged in the Young Farmers show ring at the Kent County Show. Whilst we don’t need to order a trophy cabinet just yet, this was an excellent example of how the WCF plans to provide education and training opportunities as the project develops.

10 July

For anyone going to the Kent County Show this weekend, be sure to visit the Young Farmers livestock area and say hello to Kalamar and Sian.

Kalamar is a member of the Wye Community Farm’s herd of British White cattle, whilst Sian is a resident of Wye and keen member of Young Farmers. Sian has spent the last few weeks halter training Kalamar and getting her in tip top condition for the show ring. The photos below show them setting off to the show this morning.

30 June

We now have some winter fodder in store, courtesy of Ripple Farm Organics who generously invited us to silage some of their clover leys. The photo of the bales being hauled was taken the day before The Crown was repainted; the second photo shows what a difference this has made.


We are pleased to say that our appeal for a bookkeeper has been successful, if you are looking for a friendly local accountancy service then contact Andrea at www.agsaccountancy.com


20 June

Three British White steers have arrived, see photo below, purchased from the same breeders as the heifers. This takes our cattle numbers to 12, as agreed with Natural England for our first seasons grazing on the Wye NNR.



Our sheep were sheared last night, see photo below. In the background you can see some of the lambs, the larger of which are now getting quite nervous at the mention of mint sauce…




9 June

Part of our agreement with Natural England is that we are felling Ash on the Wye National Nature Reserve. We now have logs for sale; £2.50/bag, £20 for 10 bags. To place your order please contact us.

Unfortunately for WCF our bookkeeper is leaving the area, meaning we need to fill this important role. If interested then please contact us.

19 May

A further two local residents have invited WCF to graze their land, allowing us to increase sheep numbers. We now have 19 Poll Dorset/ Dorset Horn ewes with lambs at foot. The best of the ewe lambs will be retained to expand the flock, with the rest being fattened for sale.

9 May

Our first Sussex cattle arrived yesterday, and have settled straight in with the British Whites in the Devils Kneading Trough. The Sussex are 15 month old steers, which we will be aiming to have to slaughter weight this autumn. A task over the coming weeks is to research the various options available for making our meat available to WCF supporters.

18 April

A neighbour to the Wye NNR came to see what we were up to a couple of Saturdays ago, said “follow me”, and invited us to graze a paddock adjoining his house. With the fencing not being up to cattle, and being confident that the bluetongue vaccine is on its way, we have reassessed our original decision not to get sheep during 2008 and have taken delivery of 3 Dorset Horn ewes with lambs at foot. This is a small example of how the WCF initiative is destined to expand in unexpected directions as new opportunities present themselves.



14 April

Our first farm walk on Saturday was a great success, with participants enjoying an informative guided tour of the Wye NNR in bright spring sunshine. The next walk is on 3 May, see Diary for details.





7 April

“Where on Earth are they……?” Devils Kneading Trough, 6 April





1 April

Cattle have now been moved through into the Devils Kneading Trough, to graze the chalk grassland and so maintain the ideal sward for the endangered Black Veined Moth. This moth is found at just a handful of sites in the UK - of which the Wye NNR is one – meaning the WCF cattle have a vital role to play in ensuring its survival.

The Wye herd grazing the Devils Kneading Trough



20 March

For details of farm walks and other forthcoming events, please see Diary


29 February

A new chapter for food and farming in Wye opened today, with the arrival of the first cattle on the Wye Community Farm.



For more photos and information on the cattle see About the farm, for details of how to get involved see Diary, and on the subject of diaries be sure to put the WCF’s first birthday in your forward planner for 2012!


19 February

Work is progressing well in anticipation of our first cattle arriving in the next few days. Fences have been repaired and handling facilities erected by our Saturday morning work parties; to get involved see the new diary page.



4 February

Through close consultation with Natural England we have settled on a grazing regime for the nature reserve, and we are now visiting breeders with a view to cattle arriving in the next few weeks. In the meantime there are practical tasks to be getting on with; checking fences, erecting handling facilities etc. We will be holding weekend working parties to complete this work, if you would like to get involved please contact us.


24 January 2008

We are delighted to announce that after all the effort of the last 12 months we have secured land to allow the Wye Community Farm to get mud on its boots. Agreement has been reached with Natural England for the WCF to take on the grazing rights to part of the Wye National Nature Reserve, commencing this spring. The photos on the header and side bar show images of this land, the part you may be most familiar with being the Devils Kneading Trough. We are currently discussing with Natural England a suitable stocking regime for this environmentally sensitive land, and will post more details here soon.



For News from 2007, please see our News Archive Page here.