| Date/Time | Location | Course facilitator |
| 1 Jun 2014 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Hellingly, Dallington and Chiddingly |
SFTG open farm days have proven popular and fun, giving members the chance for an outing to meet other members, see new set-ups and exchange ideas.
This year we are going to try a new format, more along the lines of the National Open Farm Day, where several farms are open so that Members can visit more than one on the day.
Open Farms this year will be very informal and you are welcome at any time between 11 and 4 pm. There will be guided tours by the owners at certain times during the day. You can bring a picnic if you like.
One request – please try to bring clean boots/footwear for obvious biosecurity reasons.
There are three farms which have kindly agreed to open on this day, centreed on the Cowbeech area. They are all quite close to each other so visiting all three is a distinct possibility. You will receive the addresses when you book (see below for how to book).
1. Hellingly. (Paul and Helen Lovatt Smith). This is a mini traditional family farm of 7 acres. There are Dexter cattle, Lleyn sheep and Chickens (in the Summer pigs as well). Cereals and fodder crops are attempted to be grown. We are trying to produce good food, be as self-sufficient as possible and encourage wildlife – and have some fun in the process. There will be tea and refreshments and a toilet. No dogs please.
2. Dallington (Edwina and Richard Moore). We have three fields, three areas of woodland and three ponds, two have been restored, on 25acres. In the summer we have visiting sheep to graze and the rest of the year a few of our original flock of Southdowns, and 110 free range laying hens. Tea and coffee will be available. No dogs. Plenty of woodland but no loo.
3. Chiddingly. (Bob Harvey, Ruth and Scott Rance). This is a 58 acre holding. We are very much work in progress having bought it in November 2012 in a tired state, e.g. fencing was one strand of barbed wire, and no effective farm buildings. We have hens, ducks, geese, ryeland and lleyn sheep, and oxford sandy and black pigs. Our plan is to run a mixed farm with sheep being the main stay. We work as a team of myself, daughter and son in law and all bring our different skills to the many tasks in hand. We will do some notes to give out, welcome visitors and show them round. Tea and coffee will be available. A loo is available. There is plenty of parking. Dogs on leads will be welcome.
This event is free to Members. When you make a booking Paul will give you the directions and addresses by email.
We hope to see you there!