Robert & Ann Hodgkinson
Ty'n-y-Coed Farm, Flintshire, north Wales
Ty’n-y-Coed is very much a traditional family farm of lowland Wales being, in total, a little under 200 acres. It is mostly down to grass, but 45 acres of Winter corn are grown in rotation for feeding to the cattle and sheep, along w
ith silage and hay, during the long Winter months.
The main enterprise is beef (numbers vary between 90 and 110), being reared from bought-in week old Hereford cross Friesian calves.
A flock of 100 breeding ewes of mixed breeds are crossed with Texel rams for early lamb production. A small number of cows, pigs and poultry of less common breeds are also kept.
The Hodgkinson family have farmed in this area for many generations. My father came to Ty’n-yCoed following active service in the Great War. At that time the farm was the “Home Farm” on a small estate which, like many others, was dispersed during the 1920’s. However, many of the landscape features that you will see, serve as a living reminder of those times. He derived great pleasure from his surroundings, and resisted the adoption of many of the modern “high pressure” techniques developed since the Second World War, preferring the practice of good husbandry.
As well as being organic, we are in the Tir Gofal environmental scheme, and have been for 2 years. This scheme means that we actively farm around encouraging wildlife.
We also have a farm trail and welcome visitors.
