Hadleigh and the environment
Hadleigh Farm is enrolled in an Entry Level Stewardship
Scheme agreement including prudent management of the ruins of
Hadleigh Castle and the species-rich acidic grassland.
We also hope to engage in an Higher Level
Stewardship Scheme agreement which is being devised in conjunction
with the wider Legacy Enhancement Package following the Olympic
mountain biking event. Specific aims include the creation of
an interrupted wildlife and habitat corridor from Hadleigh Country
Park in the west to Belton Hills in the east; arable reversion of
some arable land in order to achieve the creation of the wildlife
and habitat corridor; and greater use of explanatory signage to
educate and inform members of the public making use of the various
public rights of way across the farm.
The Rare Breeds Centre opened in 2004 with the aims of promoting
conservation of rare breed animals and providing an opportunity for
education regarding food and farming.
We are a member of the National Farm Attractions Network
and will shortly become CEVAS (Countryside Educational Visits
Accreditation Scheme) registered. Animals featured include
bagot goats, golden Guernsey goats, Leicester longwool sheep,
greyface Dartmoor sheep, Gloucester old spot pigs, mangonlitza
pigs, Exmoor ponies, Ixworth chickens, Derbyshire red cap chickens
and Scots grey chickens.
Public access features prominently at Hadleigh Farm with a
number of public footpaths that weave through both the arable and
grassland areas.
Hadleigh Farm therefore engages with partners including
Natural England, the Environment Agency, English Heritage, Hadleigh
Country Park, and the Countryside & Ecology Officer of Essex
County Council in order to preserve and enhance the environmental
assets of the farm.
Hadleigh Farm grows a number of arable crops including feed and
milling wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas and oilseed rape. We
also operate a suckler herd of around 40 Hereford-cross-Simmental
animals - we are up to about 20 calves so far this spring including
four sets of twins.