Farm & Community

 A Brief  History 

Anthony’s grand father bought the farm from the Swithland Slate owner Mr Hind, leaving us lots of slate tiles, gateposts, an obelisk and a very unusual slate coffin! We arrived in 1982 and have a dual role of growing crops and caring for the environment. Our 800 acres includes wheat, oilseed rape,and  field beans  alongside hedgerows, ponds, ancient woodland and abundant bird life. We work hard to preserve this diversity and our aim is to share this wonderful place with others. There are several public footpaths in the south of the farm near Willoughby and we also have established two permissive footpaths. And have extended our group and school visits and as you see below want to foster strong community links Please get in touch if you want to organize an outing, activity or walk. 

Community locally - Community Harvest Whetstone (CHW). This is an exciting new sustainable vegetable cooperative we started in early 2009 with Transition Leicester. Our aim is to grow vegetables in an environmentally friendly way for villages and towns in South Leicestershire. We have rented a plot of land and a poly tunnel on our farm and we are part of a growing movement addressing the need to grow more vegetables and increase the contact between farmers and consumers. We meet regularly for activities and food and its great fun! www.community-harvest-whetstone.org.uk We now have 21 Crop sharers and are looking for a few more. BE PART OF THE LOCAL VEG movement!  

Community - Globally - Send a Cow  We are  passionate supporters of the Christian development charity Send a Cow which works to lift communities in 7 African countries out of poverty using livestock and natural farming. This is reflected on the farm in lots of ways. Supporting fair-trade and African coffee, African visitors to stay, African weekend, fundraising events, and building a keyhole garden showing how African families can maximize their vegetable production as well as showing us what can be done in a small space in our own gardens. Visit www.sendacow.org for more details.

We are members of FACE farming and Countryside Education and LET NATURE FEED YOUR SENSES.. This is a Big Lottery funded scheme that promotes contact with nature using food and farming.  we hosted many visits last year from Residential homes Special needs groups disabled groups and inner city children This Year we have  booked an adult autistic group. Action Deafnesswe and a link with teenagers from Thomas Estley College Broughton Astley. We  host training days and offer visits from a wide range of groups. we team up with Local schools  and want to strengthen community life We have 2 such events coming up A WORLD FOOD DAY organised by Face in JUne and a training day for OPEN FARM SUNDAY.