The Farm - Things To Do
Walks
The Ponds
The UK was so parched and drought-stricken in 1976 that the government was keen for farmers to make space for water storage. So it turned out that our plan to create the top ponds qualified for grant funding, and work began to clear away the undergrowth. (1977 was almost as wet as '76 had been dry, work continued, and the ponds were eventually dug in '78.)
Between 1984 and 1987 we created three more lower down the valley. These are stocked with coarse fish, and some three thousand trees have been planted. They are now abundant with growth; waterfowl, frogs, fish, dragonflies and a host of underwater creatures have made their homes here.
Our choice of tall plants and trees was an attempt to balance the need for shelter with the desire not to provide excessive shading. Exotic shrubs planted around the top two ponds give it the charm of a Victorian country garden. Many friends have given shrubs, plants and time. After much hard work and imagination these are now treasured by the locals and visitors as well as the family themselves. Below the long meadow the lower ponds are evolving naturally. Gradually, the ponds are acquiring a lovely amount of wild ducks and moorhens.
Dogs are welcome, but they must be kept under control and are not allowed in the ponds.
The Meadows
The farm is set in the South-East corner of the Lizard amongst a unique landscape pattern of ancient small fields and stone-faced hedges. These hedges have not been tidily trimmed but boast shaggy thorns and trees. Barn owls, buzzards, ravens, three species of bat, several reptiles and many unusual plants and lichens thrive here. The grazing meadows hold a mixture of native grasses and herbs. Because no artificial fertilizers have ever been used there's a good variety of meadow plants. The low nutrient levels suppress the growth of vigorous grasses and favour less common flowers. The cows graze on the fields during the summer. In the winter they are housed and fed on baled hay and silage which is made in the summer from the surplus grass.
Wetland Withy Woods
Beyond the ponds is an area that many years ago was used by fishermen for making their crab pots. The withies would have been regularly coppiced to encourage the stumps to re-grow. Many different insects live in these trees, which attracts many different birds. Carefully planned glades bordering the path provide sheltered suntraps for butterflies and other insects. By cutting each area differently we've created a wide variety of habitats, from short turf through tall herbs and brambles to woodland edge.
Old Orchard
Here, old varieties of apple grow above a herb-rich pasture. The old trees provide food and nest sites for birds, in addition to perpetuating some easily lost fruit stocks. Allowing cattle to graze in the summer and autumn prevents tall grasses and brambles from dominating the ground flora, while their trampling creates sites for wild flower seeds to germinate.
Cows and Milking
The cows are milked twice a day, starting at roughly 6.30 in the morning and then again later between 4.30 and 5. The milking parlour is a 2 x 4 autotandem, so called because of the layout and number of stalls and the sensors that allow the automatic movement of cows without the touch of a button. Milking can be watched every day from the viewing gallery between 4.30pm and 5.30pm. (Our herd consists of 94 Jersey cows and yes, they each have their own name.)
Animals and Wildlife
As well as cows, there are donkeys, hens, ducks and cats on the farm. You can talk to the calves any time, but make sure you wash your hands on the way out. Feed the ducks and moorhens, or just enjoy the peace and quiet of your surroundings.
