Denhay Farm

Open Farm Sunday at Denhay Farm

Based on a mainly grass farm, the focus will be on sheep. The main activities will be at the Barn Owl Buildings (BOB) There will be a tractor/trailer ride to include Stop 1 Demonstration of different cultivation systems to grow Herbal leys. Composting demonstration Machinery display – Tractors, Combine, Forager, Drill Stop 2 Compare pure wheat with wheat/cover crop. Relate wheat for bread with demonstrations of the process Bee hives Trailer stop 3 At The Barn Tea room and the role of tourism AT BARN OWL BUILDINGS Focus on The Wool Story • Sheering demo • Have fleece table for fresh sheared fleeces to be laid out, trimmed and rolled • Wool business to demo to show what happens to a fleece. Uses to include insulation material, Sheep rugs and Wool spinning and/or weaving • Pen of sheep with Vets discussing sheep health and welfare. Include ‘sheep turner’ for foot trimming • Mobile sheep race and digital weigher. • Other sheep Dorset breeds - Portland and Dorset Horn Other animals to see • Shetland cattle • Saddleback sow • Calves • Chickens • Pigmy goats Other Activities and Demos • Discover Farming children activities • Countryside and environment management demonstrations o Tree management o Wessex water – soil sampling o Bird ringing o Moth club o Displays from Dorset AONB, DWT, FWAG, Bridport Bird group, Brit Valley Landscape, Dorset Wilding , Raise the Roof Flax project • Rural and Artisan Skills – stone, wood and metal work FOOD: Food court pulled beef baps, wild game and vegetarian option. Tea, coffee and local ice-creams A picnic area for guests to bring their own picnic as well Entry is free and lots of parking space Donations will be collected for Farming Community Network About this farm: Arable and Livestock farm on heavy clay soil. 45% is in some type of stewardship agreement with 80 acres hill land left for wildlife and conservation. Regenerative principles are being applied . Active stewardship includes buffer strips, winter bird food, bumble bird mix or 2 year legume fallow. Highlights: Cereal crops (eg. barley, wheat); Sheep; Poultry; Environmental stewardship