Background to Boycott Farm

We milked a herd of pedigree Holstein Friesians for several years but unfortunately in 2002 this became unviable and we have since diversified.

In 2001, we established a free-range poultry unit of 6,000 hens and in late 2003 we built a livery yard, which can now accommodate 20 horses.

We also reared cattle for other farmers, but found this not as satisfying as rearing and breeding your own livestock. Therefore, in Spring 2005, we started our own Suckler herd of 40 cows and bought an Aberdeen Angus Bull. We still grow wheat for seed and some oats for cattle feed. The straw is then used for the livery yard, cattle and pigs. Grass is grown for silage and maize silage is used for our Cattle in the Winter and to make hay. Later that year (Autumn 2005), our son Philip purchased some Gloucester Old Spot pigs, which he looks after, feeds and mucks out. It is his enterprise to supply high-quality bacon, gammon and sausages to the shop.

The grassland where the cattle graze is farmed extensively with no fertilizer or sprays, although we are not an organic farm.

The land is farmed with care for the wildlife and environment, and with this in mind we entered into a countryside stewardship scheme. Hedges have been coppiced and trees and hedges replaced, in addition to six-metre strips left around the edge of the field to encourage wildlife. The wild bird population has also increased, and we now see a lot more Kestrels and Skylarks.

More details on all of the above, can be found on this website. If you have any questions, please contact us and we will be pleased to help.

We hope you are able to visit our shop soon!

Richard & Rosemary Hilsdon