Brian & Jane Evans
Mahollam Farm
Nr Kington, Herefordshire
Brian and Jane Evans describe their farm :
"Mahollam Farmis a 350 acre mixed farm on the Welsh Borders, 2 miles south west of Kington. Conversion to organic status began in 1997 and became fully organic in 2002.
The Farm and its Wildlife
The farm is situated in the picturesque Upper Arrow Valley, a short distance from the Hergest Ridge and is well known to walkers because of the famous Offa's Dyke Walk.
The farm is 600-800 feet above sea level. We have been in the Countryside Stewardship scheme for 5 years now. This has involved tree planting, lots of hedge planting, along with hedge laying many of the old original hedges to encourage wildlife and protect the livestock from the elements. The hedges are trimmed later in the year to enable and encourage the nesting of birds. The hedges are all double-fenced to protect them from livestock damage.
This has all resulted in a big increase in general wildlife including dormice and sightings of otters and crayfish in the river Arrow.
Livestock -Cattle
We have a self-contained herd of 55 cows, mainly Hereford cross Friesian and Hereford cross Friesian, which run with an Angus or Charolais bull.
The calves are born during March and April and stay with their mothers until the end of October,when they are weaned and brought into open, airy sheds for the winter.
They are fed mainly on grass silage or hay and oats or barley that has been all home-grown. their bedding is straw.
During the late spring and summer they graze the pastures around the farm and are sold between 2 and 2.5years of age as prime beef.
Sheep
We have 350 breeding ewes, who lamb during the end of March and into early April. The reason for this is because the weather is usually becoming warmer and more grass is available..
the lambs stay with their mothers until August and until they are old enough to graze for themselves, and are sold between August and February via Graig Farm.
Arable(crops)
We grow oats and barley for food for the livestock during the winter.
Vegetables - We have about 10 acres of organic potatoes along with organic carrots and winter cabbage. Some are sold when harvested, others are stored in a refrigerated store so they can supply when and as it is needed. Some goes into box schemes. (for vegetable box orders or more information, call 07974 4811568."
