Field Notes: 18th - 25th November

Nov 28, 2024

Field Record: What’s been happening on the 107 acres of Honeydale Farm?

Snow arrived on the farm last week, with fields blanketed in white and flakes falling heavily. Our farm looked truly magical, transformed into a winter wonderland. 

Our local area experienced heavy flooding over the weekend, leaving the valley’s lower fields submerged and turning nearby roads impassable. While the farm itself escaped the worst, this extreme weather reminds us of the challenges heavy rainfall can bring, particularly to farmers.

The way that we farm helps reduce water running off the fields, and in turn taking the all important topsoil with it. Regenerative farming practices, such as maintaining living roots in the soil, undersowing annual crops and incorporating agroforestry all support a more weather resistant farm. On the farm we also have a natural flood management scheme which slows down the water by having to go through meandering channels and leaky dams. This water then settles in a scrape in the scrubby grassland at the bottom of the farm instead of running off onto the neighbouring fields. 

In other news, we’ve welcomed a flock of 30 hens to the farm! These chickens came from the non-for-profit, Fresh Start For Hens, who are dedicated to rehoming hens from the commercial egg production sector. They’ve settled in nicely over the weekend (despite the rain!) with our two resident hens and are living it up in our custom-built eggmobile. They’re adjusting to life on our farm and are moving daily down the agroforestry strips. We hope to use the eggs they lay in the FarmED Cafe for tasty dishes and cakes, reducing our food miles and helping us get another step closer to closing the loop! 

Events Recap: What’s on at FarmED?

Caroline Quentin Literary Lunch Event

Last Tuesday, we had the pleasure of hosting a special literary lunch with actress and comedian, Caroline Quentin. Caroline joined us to share her passion for gardening, captured in her new uplifting book, Drawn to the Garden.

We welcomed a group of around 50, who all enjoyed a delicious seasonal meal prepared by the FarmED Cafe, followed by coffee and sweet treats, before hearing Caroline’s inspiring and humorous tales of life in her Devon farmhouse. From growing chillies and battling blackbirds to the joys of singing to dragonflies by her pond, Caroline shared her gardening journey as a mix of happy accidents, unexpected triumphs, and frustrating failures. 

Caroline’s warm and engaging storytelling, paired with her own illustrations, brought her book to life, blending personal anecdotes, practical gardening tips, and even recipes. Her philosophy — that gardening is meditative, restorative, and a perfect lift for the spirits — made for a truly memorable afternoon on the farm. 

Wychwood Forest Trust AGM

Last Saturday, we had the pleasure of hosting the Wychwood Forest Trust’s AGM, where we welcomed a group of 100 members and supporters to the farm for a day of reflections and planning for the following year. 

The day opened with Neil providing an overview of the Trust’s milestones over the past year and presenting prizes for the annual photo competition—congratulations to winners Shaun Hancox and Denis Kennedy!

Stephen Moss, bestselling author and naturalist, then delivered a fascinating talk on the loss of biodiversity in and around the Wychwoods, focusing on the dramatic changes in bird species during his lifetime. His insights sparked a discussion on the importance of conservation efforts, and the day was rounded off with a bird walk led by Stephen, allowing guests to experience the farm’s wildlife firsthand.

Our Cafe provided a delicious buffet lunch, and attendees had the opportunity to pick up copies of Stephen’s latest book, The Starling: A Biography. 

This was not Stephen’s first visit to FarmED. He was a guest speaker at our first ever Farm & Food Literature Festival, when he led a nature writing workshop.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and to the Wychwood Forest Trust for organizing such a wonderful gathering. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another fantastic AGM next year! 

If you weren't able to attend, but would like a free copy of WFT’s beautiful new Annual Review, produced by the team at Writerly & Wild, contact info@wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk.

Garden Treasures: What’s been happening down in the kitchen garden?

Down in the kitchen garden, the arrival of wind, rain, and early snow has kept us busy protecting our plot against the elements. Temporary tunnels have been sandbagged to stay in place, and crops are now tucked under protective fleece to shield them from frost. With the hard ground frozen solid and morning harvesting ruled out for delicate crops like lettuce and salad leaves, we’ve had to adjust to later starts. The colder weather has marked the end of the outdoor lettuce season, leaving us to rely on the hardy crops growing steadily in the tunnels. Providing fresh leaves all winter long requires extra vigilance, especially during freezing spells.

Friday saw the first harvest of winter chard, topped up by stored vegetables like beetroot, onions, and squash to fill our veg boxes. This week felt particularly special as it was the last with the team all together before the season truly slows down and Ethan and Eddie go off to new adventures. 

The farm has felt alive with wildlife as we come to the end of autumn, with birds and ground animals all preparing for the winter ahead. This week, we’ve spotted a woodpecker darting above us on the lookout for food, a kestrel battling against the heavy winds, and a deer grazing in the field above the plot. The mice are growing hungrier (and braver) as food becomes scarce, especially with the arrival of the early snow.