March 2015 - Suffolk Smallholders Society

Suffolk Smallholders
Society Newsletter
March 2015
1
Good Morning Smallholders
As I write the weather is mild following a few days of
chilly starts to the day. The land has got wet again and
we’re up to our ankles in mud. Occasionally I have
caught a touch of spring, but it soon disappears in to a
cold wintery evening.
This past week or so we have been sorting out a lot of
animal movements and for a brief time now we have all
of our livestock on site which is quite unusual. It’s also
really great to see the cows, sheep, pigs and goats
around us. The ewes are beginning to round up and
bag up a little and I have my lambing supplies to hand.
Soon I will wean the calves – and a new batch of
piglets – and things will be well set up for a new spring
time.
Meanwhile the allotment is too wet to do anything with
for now. I have great hopes for our new raised bed
arrangement and look forward to much reduced
weeding and digging this season. Please drop me a
line with any projects or reflections on your holding for
this year – contributions are always really appreciated.
Just a reminder – all contributions for the next issue
need to be in by 16th March.
The Mill House, Mill Hill,
Earl Soham
IP13 7RP
01728 684312
email: giles.barrow@virgin.net
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Events
March 14th
Brushcutter-Hedgecutter-Trimmer Maintenance (member
led). Members to bring their own kit to be worked on.
LocationWinston Old School room near Debenham
Full directions supplied on booking.
Time 9.30am to12.30pm. £5.00 per head to cover cost of
venue hire and refreshments. Contact Janice Leat 01473
890365 or ruby22597@yahoo.co.uk
Spring Time Rendlesham Wild Food Experience Sunday 26th April 2015 Start at: 10am. Finish approx. 1pm £15.00 per head To be collected on the day by committee member Bookings for this workshop to be made to Janice Leat 01473890365/ruby22597@yahoo.co.uk Session includes; a guided walk looking at some of the local wild-­‐
foods around Rendlesham, followed by a chance to try out seasonal produce including preserves, drinks & cooked produce. Led by Jon Tyler http://www.wildforwoods.co.uk Participants will receive a colour ID guide of the plants / forage items we have seen, further information sheets and some recipe ideas. Rendlesham Forest Centre car park and picnic area is run by the Forestry Commission. To get there: Follow the B1084 Woodbridge to Orford road. Rendlesham Forest Centre is approx 4 miles along this road on the right hand side. There is a sign for the Forest Centre just before the turn. Follow the road past the airfield and continue for about 1 mile until you reach a crossroad, turn right for the car park. OS Grid ref: TM354484 Postcode: IP12 3NF 3
There is lots of parking, but there is a charge (all day parking for £3.30 cash only parking meters) so people might want to share lifts to minimise parking costs. I will be by the information hut but you will probably see me as you come in, its quite an open area. The aim is to start at 10am so if people can try to get to the car park for 9.45am. I will be about from 9.30am in case anyone is really early. Finish time will be about 1pm, if anyone needs to get away before then that's fine. Participants should bring suitable outdoor clothing, sturdy footwear and a waterproof coat (we will still go ahead if its raining as there will be some shelter under trees). I will bring baskets and bags to collect things in. There are toilets at the car park and a drinking water supply. NOSEY SUNDAYS
April 19th 2pm – 4pm
During the AGM 2014, 3 members kindly offered to host
a Nosey Sunday we begin this year at Jackie and John
Naylers . Walk Farm Martlesham Nr Woodbridge
P134PE
To Members: I have an offer for the Sept/Oct. If you
would like to host a couple hours on a Sunday
afternoon please contact me, just to remind this is an
outside explore and not a tour of indoors so no panic
housework needed.
Look forward to hearing from you ---- Janice.
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Game preparation/butchery day
We gathered on 24 January to learn how to cut and prepare
game in Jackie and John Nayler’s cutting room which is
located in the middle of their wood. Simon the butcher gave
an introduction about obtaining game for yourself by
shooting or trapping and had brought along a selection of
game birds and a deer to prepare and cut up. Assisted by his
‘glamorous assistant’ Zak (his terms not mine!) we were
shown how to dress a variety of birds including pheasant,
partridge, pigeon and snipe and had the opportunity to have a
go as well. It was a chilly day and the deer hung nicely in the
cold room next door while we were kept comfortable by a
Nordic wood burner. Not too warm though as the meat had to
be kept cool.
We finished by cutting up the deer and we all went home
with some venison plus the odd bird or two. A very
interesting day presented by a butcher that really knows his
trade and I would recommend to members to go on any of his
courses. Our thanks to Simon for making it so interesting
and also to Jackie and John for again hosting the event.
John Sones
Members Articles
Purdis Poppy Farm Diary
Spring Project
I didn’t manage to write a diary in time for the January
deadline, as I had too much on my plate. But it has worked
out quite nicely. When I wrote in December, I mentioned the
world being very dark and grinding to a halt around the
winter solstice and now – just two months on – I feel spring
in the air!
Today the birds are singing, the bees are peeping out of the
hives and we have completed a spring project. Well almost.
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I am sure the picture will not do
it justice but Lee has just built
the ‘stairway to heaven’ or
‘Project Steps’. This bank used
to be COMPLETELY overgrown
with brambles, nettles and ferns.
The project started when
Flowers, our daughter in law,
just cut a path alongside the fence, through the brambles.
This inspired my dad to clear the whole bank of brambles
(and as many of their roots as he could find – aargh!). He
floated the idea of a sloping path down the bank (instead of
the steep staircase you can see at the other end). This in
turn inspired Lee to build a staircase with military precision
and truly worthy of a National Trust garden!
It is a thing of beauty and once the steps are filled with
woodchip and the bank covered in wildflowers, we will start
charging entry!
Gideon
Gideon is a lovely Golden Guernsey billy goat who lives at
Baylham Rare Breeds Farm. He is a lovely chap. He
fathered all five of the kids we were blessed with last
summer and he is back with us now. He is frolicking with
May and Storm, in the hope of getting some more girls this
year. We loved having the kids last year. It was our first
attempt at deliberately breeding anything and it was joyful.
HOWEVER, I have to say that Gideon has changed. Last
year contrary to popular belief about billy goats, he was not
at all smelly. It seems he was just young last year. This
year – wow! You certainly know if he is around, and it
transmits very easily to anything it comes into contact with! I
was standing at the counter in Screwfix last Sunday and
suddenly realised that I smelt of billy goat! He must have
rubbed against me when I fed him in the morning! How
embarrassing. Still it could have been worse, I could have
been in Waitrose.
Liz Marley
www.purdispoppyfarm.co.uk
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A View from the Holding
Peter Runacres
So here we are with the days starting to get that little bit
longer, although February always seems to hang on to
those grey, dull days ; thank goodness there are only
28 day to get through !! March finally brings the hope
of getting started in earnest with planting in the veg
plot, although 2013 reminded us of how cold it can be
in the ''first'' Spring Month.
In the hedgerows you can hear the cock Chaffinches
starting to sing out --- or ''tumbling'' as my Father used
to call it, it's one of those bird songs that brightens up
the Springtime. My resident Robins are very excited
every time I move something or dig up another batch of
Leeks from the garden and insects are gratefully picked
up in super quick time. They seem to have an invisible
boundary line diagonally across the veg plot with one
roosting in my old shed and the other finding shelter in
the overgrown trees round the Farm stack-yard. When
the two meet tempers flare up and much acrobatic
hissy fits ensue , ---- even the odd feather gets
removed to float discarded to the ground.
A bigger bird to arrive in the valley last year was a
Buzzard, who regularly flys over the meadows and
fields ; the hens and Bantams don't seem to mind but
we did hang out some old CDs which reflect the light
and act as scarers. Usually the only one to get upset in
the chicken run is '' Orpy'' our little Buff Orpington
Bantam Cockerel who makes a terrible squeaky crow
before retiring under the hen-house regardless if his 4
ladies are by his side or not !! No Gentleman is he !!
On the other-hand our Wheaten Bantam Cockerel will
round-up his ''Girls'' when it's too hot , too windy, too
wet even taking them back in the house when he thinks
it's bed-time, usually at least an hour too soon ??
7
The egg production has at last picked up with the
Bantams starting to lay with the longer days now on us.
The star layers must be our two Runner ducks who
since we got them in June have hardly stopped with on
average 12 eggs a week ---- just when you think they
are easing up off they go again !!
They make a great sponge-cake and I'm very fond of
poached duck eggs too !!
The Rabbits have continued to breed well with litters of
seven the number that both our Does seem to
produce; this is actually just the right number as larger
litters can mean small , weak ones that don't survive.
Some extra deep bedding hay and blankets to cover
the hutches kept them snug and water drinkers from
freezing in the frosty periods. I tend not to look at the
nest of young rabbits till a week or 10 days – the Doe is
more than capable of keeping them warm and looked
after !! The rabbits are very good at using up most of
the surplus in the garden but at this time of year good
grass to pull for them is difficult to find. Luckily certain
types of hedge prunings can be good for them; our
Buck loves Hazel twigs and it helps to keep their teeth
in good order, and it's surprising how much hay a rabbit
can get through !
Looking forward to see if cider/ Perry made in October
will be drinkable by the time we hear the first Cuckoo , (
heard on the radio that this is rough date when
traditional cider would just be right to drink?). Used old
method of Yeast from the fermentation/ air rather than
adding to brew so don't know what outcome will be .
Never mind did make a batch of Pear wine so at least
one or two bottles from that--- Cheers !!
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Reflections on Top Fruit Derek & Valerie Soper We are the guardians of six, over a century old apple trees which are gnarled, twisted and encrusted with lichen. Each year four are pruned in Jan/Feb, our aim being to remove water shoots and twiggy growth and also to control height and retain open centres, necessitating a small amount of branch thinning. We have a very large Bramley tree and a Laxton which apart from getting assistance one year to cut out dead wood on the Bramely. We don’t prune. The overgrown Laxton acts as a windbreak. These two provide windfalls we may use for juice or leave for the fieldfares. The other four trees are Gascoyne’s Scarlet – wonderful for baking –James Grieve which don’t store for long, Kerwick Codloing a good keeper, and Gravenstein which we rescued from near demise. The latter three were identified for us. The best apples are kept at 4 degrees C. In a larder fridge, the rest in the cool in wooden trays, which need inspecting regularly. We have very few past and disease problems. Grease bands are a non-­‐no because they trap predators (eg. daddy-­‐long-­‐
legs) and in any case we have not seen early winter moth caterpillar damage. Monitoring codling moth with specific pheromone shows it hardly features and the traps caught other fliers in the goo indiscriminately. We do see apple sawfly damage – corky squiggles on the fruit – and although there is plenty of woolly aphids on the tree trunks this pest is food for blue tits. Leaf-­‐curling aphids appear occasionally and eyed hawk moth adults were a surprise. Pest/predator relationships are nicely in balance; sprays never used. A little primary mildew infection is pruned off, but these old varieties are not susceptible to this or apple scab. 9
As ‘eaters’ we inherited two Worcesters and have planted two russets, Egremont and Rosemary for their unique texture and flavour, plus a dwarf Discovery for an August crop. These are pruned as per the old trees. We have just three plum trees, an inherited Victoria and two of our own plantings – the fitfully yielding Ouillens Golden Gage and the reliable Czar if you beat the wasps. To complete the picture there is one desert pear, but these blossom early so get frosted, and don’t store. Pear-­‐growing should be left to France from where good cultivars emanate. We are currently looking towards blossom-­‐time, which is always a great show. When reading the following article, please bear in
mind that it was originally for the national magazine
‘Smallholder’. It was written about the benefits of
societies in general and gave an opportunity to
promote our own at the same time. So although a
potted history of the Suffolk Smallholders Society, it
is not exclusively about us.
Growing together
John Sones looks at the benefits of joining a smallholder
society
How time flies. Not that I was a member from the start but 2014
saw our society celebrate twenty years since it was formed. In
1994 a group of people who had just completed a smallholding
course at Otley College near Ipswich about keeping livestock and
growing their own food wanted to keep the momentum going and
so the Suffolk Smallholders’ Society (SSS) was born.
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In this article I am going to look at how it has changed over the
years, what societies offer and the benefits of joining a similar
group near you.
Whilst researching our archives, I came across the phrase “to
enlighten and encourage people to have a go at smallholding”. It
describes I think the aim of the first show in 1995 which had
around 700 visitors. Quite an achievement in their first year. The
next five shows were held at a different location with attendance
figures rising to around three and a half thousand by the year 2000.
One of the membership benefits was free entry and any money
raised went towards the next show.
When Foot and Mouth disease struck, the next show which
would have been in 2001was cancelled. This was because of the
restrictions on animal movements as it was felt that their presence
was an essential part of what smallholding is about. The following
year because restrictions were still in place including a 20-day
isolation period after a show, it was thought ‘if we cannot take the
animals to the show why not invite people to come to the
animals?’ A member who keeps rare breeds agreed to be the host
and by this time the initial membership of around one hundred had
risen to about one hundred and fifty.
In 2003 the show moved again to another farm with its own
attractions as cloven hoofed animal movements were still
restricted. From 2004 until the last show in 2008 when we were
still getting high attendances, the society hired a purpose built
showground. I can personally relate to this site as I joined the
society at the 2004 show and helped to run the last one. By this
time it was proving harder and harder to get sufficient help to run
them and there was a lot of pressure particularly on the organiser.
This was against a background of increasing membership
including people living in Essex and Norfolk.
For various reasons after that last show there was a debate about
‘who is the show really for?’ Opinion was divided as some felt that
it was a way of recruiting new members and showing the public
what smallholding is whereas others believed it should be an event
for members only. In 2009 as a trial, an informal members’ day
was held at a holding. There were various displays, poultry, a
produce show and an auction with members enjoying a picnic
lunch. This was well attended despite the weather not being very
good but one held the following year at a different location was
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less successful. In August 2010 also as a trial, the society linked
with a regular (non-smallholding) show so that members could
have their own stands there.
As the society was still in a state of change with different views
of the direction it should take, a questionnaire was sent out to all
members and the results used by the committee to help making
decisions about the society’s future.
Like many organisations, the society had held annual Christmas
meals but when attendance dropped, it was moved to become a
harvest supper instead to follow the AGM. In 2011, the committee
decided that members’ day would also incorporate the AGM to
encourage more people to come. To make it more interesting, a
photo competition and vegetable show was also added finishing
the day with a harvest supper of hog roast and other food provided
by members.
Also now included in the AGM is the presentation of the Jon
Woods Award. This was given to the society by the widow of a
member in her husband’s memory to promote and celebrate
outstanding conservation work that has taken place on members’
smallholdings. The scale of the project is not important – the
emphasis is on the commitment and practical steps taken to
promote natural ecosystems and protect wildlife. Members enter
their holdings and judges who include the previous winners award
it to the entry which best fits the criteria.
In 2012 an easily erected small rigid framed tent was purchased
and marked with the society website address on all sides as a
decision had been made not hold a show again in the foreseeable
future. Other items were also bought including a table, two pop-up
signs which had pictures on them showing society activities,
society mugs to be sold and fuzzy bugs (bees, sheep and pigs) to
give away to children. This then equipped the society to attend
local shows and promote smallholding which it has continued to
do. This has been very successful having taken part in various
small shows around Suffolk. One of the members is a spinner and
when available, she has sat just outside the tent and drawn a lot of
interest from all age groups.
Publicising the society and smallholding in this way has required
far less support from members than running a show and is less
expensive with fewer risks. That is not to say that shows are no
longer practical as our neighbours, the Norfolk Smallholders
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Training Group (NSTG) continue to hold a very successful show
in August each year.
It is interesting to compare the two organisations as it is a guide
as to what may be broadly available through any similar group.
Firstly it is worth noting that the form is different as is the basis on
which they are operated, the NSTG being a charity. Both offer low
cost training courses/talks to suit the needs of smallholders which
may cover topics such as lambing, hedging, fencing and small
machinery maintenance. Both also have regular newsletters
containing forthcoming events, news, useful articles and contacts
and offer equipment on loan. For example the SSS own egg
incubators, post rammers and fencing tools among other items as
well as a set of DVDs about sheep all available free to members.
Of all that the SSS offers, it seems that most members
particularly value the monthly newsletter for the ‘For Sale’ and
‘Wanted’ adverts. Another popular activity is ‘Nosey Sundays’
when a member hosts a visit to their smallholding. This provides a
great opportunity to meet other smallholders as well as seeing how
someone else is doing things which often promotes a lot of
discussion. Other joint activities like apple pressing are a good way
to get people who are often working alone or with a partner to
meet others who are like minded.
It is surprising what can be achieved when a few determined
people with common interests get together. Smallholding
continues to thrive despite more and more regulations and
red tape. Perhaps however, we should bear in mind the old
saying, ‘United we stand, divided we fall’. Such a group as
well as providing support, can together argue their case if the
need arises.
Have you asked yourself lately why you are a member? Do
you play an active part and/or support events at some time
during the year? We all lead busy lives and it should not
always be left to the same few people to do everything.
Smallholding is often a lifestyle choice even though it may
only form part of someone’s life. It is as much about what
you put in as what you get out of it – just like growing your
own vegetables!
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Some smallholder clubs advertising nationally:
Cheshire Smallholders Association – www.cheshiresmallholders.org.uk
Derbyshire Smallholders Association –
www.derbyshiresmallholders.co.uk
Devon Association of Smallholders – www.devonsmallholders.co.uk
Dyfed Smallholders – www.dyfedsmallholders.org.uk
East Essex Smallholders Group – www.eastessexsmallholders.org.uk
Fenland Goatkeepers and Smallholders Club – www.fgsc.org.uk
Herts and Essex Society – www.hertsandessexsmallholders.org
Kent Smallholders – www.kentsmallholders.co.uk
Lincolnshire Smallholders and Self Sufficiency Club –
www.lsssc.org.uk
Norfolk Smallholders Training Group – www.nstg.org.uk
North Yorkshire Smallholder Society – www.smallholder.org.uk
Shropshire Smallholders Group –
www.shropshiresmallholdersgroup.org
Somerset Smallholders Association –
www.somersetsmallholders.org.uk
Suffolk Smallholders Society – www.suffolksmallholders.co.uk
West Sussex Smallholders Club – www.westsussexsmallholders.co.uk
Livestock Care
Over 10 years experience, NVQ's in livestock care level
2 and 3, degree in agricultural management, sheep
shearing courses through the national wool board.
Services such as sheep and goat foot trimming,
dagging sheep, general health checks of all livestock,
sheep shearing and general advice.
Contact Kate Ockelton on 07708690464 or
kate.ockelton@gmail.com
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Society Equipment
We have recently acquired more equipment which members
may borrow from the society FREE OF CHARGE.
Equipment is held at two separate locations: Badingham, in
the East of the county, and Depden in the West.
The list of equipment currently available is:
• Egg Incubators
• Chick Brooders with Infra Red lights
• Post Rammers/Thumpers
• Hand Post Augers
• Fencing tensioner tool
• Apple Press
• Slap Marker Handle
• Smallholding DVD series inc:
o Establishing Your Flock
o Managing Your Flock for Peak Health
o The Breeding Flock
o Sheep for Business, Enterprise and Profit
The DVDs can be borrowed from Janice Leat 01473 890365
or ruby22597@yahoo.co.uk
If you would like to borrow equipment, please contact our
quartermaster, Gill Bedson. She will arrange for you to
collect at either Badingham or Depden. Gill can be contacted
by phone on 01728 638747 or by email at
gillbedson@yahoo.co.uk
Committee Members and Contacts
Janice Leat
Society Chairman
01473 890365 ruby22597@yahoo.co
Wendy Brame
Membership
Secretary
01449 711178 wendy.brame@crumbly
.uk
cottage.co.uk
Martin Hancock Treasurer
Paula Blackmore Committee
Member
Katy/Peter
Committee
Runnacres
Members
01473 311064 HancockMJF@aol.com
01359 240223 paula.blackmore
@gmail.com
01728 685736 katyrunacres@hotmail.
co.uk
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SOCIETY HELPLINES The Society cannot be held
responsible for any problems arising from help given.
SHEEP
Neil Storer
01473 830264
RARE BREEDS
Neil Storer
01473 830264
BEES
Richard Martin
01449 720491
Tony Payne
01359 244244
ORGANICS
John Cousins
01728 638721
POULTRY
Mr Rix
07813 993956
PIGS
Chris Keeble
01449 711587
DAIRYING
Vacant
DEFRA Land issues
John Sones
01473 658804
Machinery
John Graham
Tree Surgery/Wood
Management
VACANT
01379 384444
Small group workshops
We hold a database of members offering to share their
knowledge ie; Bee Keeping / Sausage/Bacon
making/Propagation and Cultivation of Fruits/ Composting /
Paddock Maintenance / Small Machinery Maintenance.
We are always looking to increase this list and if you feel you
have a skill that you would be willing to share please contact
me. Janice Leat 01473 890365 or ruby22597@yahoo.co.uk
Suffolk Smallholders Society
MEMBERSHIP
Membership Application forms can be obtained from The
Membership Secretary:
Wendy Brame, 6 Turnpike, Stonham Parva, Suffolk IP14
5JS
Tel: 01449 711178.
Email: wendy.brame@crumblycottage.co.uk
Subscription by Cash/Cheque is £20.00 from 1st.
September to 31st August . Copies of back issues of the
Newsletter (while they last) are sent to new members.
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FOR SALE
Members ads will be printed (no charge) for two months
unless cancelled or renewed. Month of expiry is given in ()
Please send advert to Giles Barrow, Mill House, Mill Hill, Earl
Soham, IP13 7RP email: giles.barrow@virgin.net Larger
adverts 1/4 to whole page available £80 / per A5 printed page
per annum pro rata.
Well rotted horse manure free to Come and bag it yourself
Alpaca poo £1.00 bag
Lindsay Maclusky 01728638238 OR 07799892442
Lindsay.maclusky@btopenworld.com (May)
Wanted: shearling wethers or ewes (2014-­‐born) for heathland grazing. Must be a hardy breed and ideally used to heathland or other poor quality grazing. Nick Sibbett 01284 723847 or nicksibbett@live.co.uk (May) For sale: SHEEP FENCING -­‐ Rappa 3 reel barrow, 3 full reels poly wire, 6 full reels steel wire, two strong metal reel posts, 3 strong metal corner posts, (both with insulators), quantity of plastic fence stakes. £420 Tel 07768523342 (member). (May) Excellent quality hay for sale at Creeting St Mary. £2.50 per bale collected. Call William or Caroline on 01449 720907
POL Lohmann Brown hybrid pullets ready from 21st
February,18 weeks old, vaccinated, very friendly birds, small
and large orders welcome, £7.50 each or discount over 10
birds. Phone Anthony Ling on 01473 890787 after 7pm
please
For Sale: 4 Easy Care Sheep (no shearing required). Ewes due to
lamb late March 01728 723407
2 – berth caravan in very good condition. 01728 723407
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1000 litre IBC containers, idea for water storage £35 each,
With water butt tap connector £5 optional, delivery at cost.
200 litre steel drum with clamp on lid. Ideal feed storage, dry
and rodent proof £10
Concrete paving slabs
18" x 18", 30 ish plus a few damaged £2 each
18" x 9" 24 ish plus a few damaged £1 each
24" x 24" ( Red) 4 plus 1 damaged £2 each
Concrete Kerb. 6 no 6"x5" concrete kerbs for drive entrance.
Wooden Posts 17 lengths of 5"x4" x 71" timber posts (don't
know if they are treated) £3 each
Various lengths of 12"x6" timber baulks. from 7ft to 4ft £5
each
2 Plastic chick drinkers £ 3 for both
Barley straw 5ft round bales £10 each.
Ferguson Two row Potato Planter/ Ridger, old but in working
order. £150
Stainless steel milking bucket. 5 or 6 Litre. Really good for
milking as it is short and wide rather than tall and narrow.
This is not new so has a dent or two but is heavy gauge so
will last for years, includes a few milk filters £20
Stainless Steel 8L Preserving pan plus brass jam
thermometer £15 for both
Colin Cuthbert 01728 603830 (May)
FOR SALE
Sheep drench gun – well chewed
but still very useable. £5 (comes
with a free pot of udder cream!)
Four rolls of netting. They are
NOT in good condition but may
be useful for patching. Free of
charge.
6 sheep hurdles. Five in good
condition - £10 each. One has one of
the circular joiners missing but is still
perfectly useable - £5.
Phone Gerry or Annabel Brown,
01473 737256. (Dallinghoo)
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What’s happening at the bottom of your field? High Quality Rescue Hens from an organic farm Intelligent. Friendly. Talented. When we say talented, we mean they usually lay lots of delicious eggs – and not that they automatically know how to play cards (this takes time and considerable training) Available now and in April We usually charge £2.50 per hen (min.4) to cover our costs (non profit making) and this includes delivery broadly within the Ipswich/ SE Suffolk area. Please do ask us about wider locations and reductions for largeish numbers as we may be able to accommodate. If you can offer some of them a loving home, please email us at: hen.rescue@yahoo.co.uk If you’re new to keeping hens, or integrating with existing hens, we are happy to give advice/guidance where needed. Britsh Lops. I have a young gilt that would be good for breeding. She’s 6/7 months so will be ready for the boar later this year. She’s pure bred but not registered (£80). British Lop weaners available now. £50 each or £45 for three or more. Interested? Ring Giles 01728 684312 (Mar) ORGANIC POULTRY FEED WHEAT Hulvertree Farm, Badingham Road Laxfield. £10.40/cwt or £5.40 for 1/2 cwt Tel: Cousins on 01728 638721 (April) Registered female British Guernsey kid born July 2014. Friendly and affectionate. £120.00 Contact Anne Stearn on 01449 771318 email pastearn@hotmail.com (April)
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1931 Austin 7 special, hand built two
seater alloy sports body,spoked wheels tuned engine very
good condition, fun to drive and currently on the road mot
and tax exempt, very rare only 220 ever built and now only
19 known to exist, drive or show, excellent investment
opportunity, Geoff 07951191932 (April)
Old Monrotiller with cultivator attachment, Villiers four stroke
engine, three foward and three reverse gearbox, complete
with operators manual, these are hard to find now and quite
collectable, use to run ok but now It's been stood up for a
while so might need tinkering with,£50. 07951191932
Claas tractor rear mudguards, painted and ready to fit £300
or offers 07951191932 (April)
Do you believe in a more self sufficient, localised and sustainable
method of farming and producing food?
Wood you like the opportunity to rear your own pigs in a high
welfare environment and know the provenance of what you are
eating?
If the answer is yes then Debenham Pig Club can offer you the
opportunity. For more information and to see how we have done
exactly this for the last two years then visit
debenhampigclub.wordpress.com or contact Jane on 01728
860244 (April)
WANTED
Wanted. Pig ark or other type of dismantleable pig housing.
Electric fencing components to give us a run of approx 300
metres of wire. Pig feeding troughs. Galvanised hurdles.
Please call Keith and Mary-Jane on 01728 668250 or
k.tyrrell112@btinternet.com
Wanted scrap metal anything from tin cans to machinery,
small or large loads, payment for your rubbish and a tidy up
at same time. Registered waste carrier. 01728 747259 (Mar)
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Suffolk Smallholders Website
The Members Forum is now up
and running. Last month there
was a guide for members to join
the group. If you have mislaid
your copy, and want to check out
the forum you can either contact
Tim Leat at
M A Blackburn
Landscaping
Tel. 01508 548432
Fencing and Gates
Garden, Field and Commercial
Landscaping / Gardens
Brickweave, Block Paving,
Slabs & Patios, Shingle / Gravel
Driveways, Garden renovation and
One off tasks
hello@timleat.com
Or the Editor at:
Mini Digger with Driver available for
hire
giles.barrow@virgin.net
Member of the Guild of Master
Craftsmen
Fully Insured & References
available
THORNE’S EQUIPMENT
FOR YOUR BEES
A large range of stock including: frames,
foundation, hives in the flat, WBC, National and
Commercial, honey jars, tools, bee suits, veils and
gloves
RICHARD MARTIN BEE SUPPLIES
Little College Farm
Creeting Hills, Creeting St Mary
IP6 8PX
Opening Hours
1 April – 30 Sept 4-7pm
daily except Sundays
Please call first at other times
Telephone 01449 720491
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Richards Farm Repairs
Welding Fencing Carpentry
Providing a first class call out service at a
reasonable cost.
Welding of gates and General repairs
Fencing for live stock.
Carpentry for stable and shed doors.
Richard Warne
Tel 01728 628021
mobile 07758297995
www.richardsfarmrepairs.co.uk
<http://www.richardsfarmrepairs.co.uk>
email enquiries@richardsfarmrepairs.co.uk CUTTING PRICES FOR
SUFFOLK
SMALLHOLDERS
Lambs
from £18.40
Pigs from £42.50
Beef from £176.40
Prices depend on the size of the carcase, the type of
wrapping, and labelling required. For more
information on how we can meet your requirements
and to obtain a quote, please contact Paul on:
Tel: 01728 687627
Mobile: 07771 693316
Lime Tree Farm Blaxhall IP12 2DY
Email: paul@wildmeat.co.uk
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Geoff Rogers
Over 35 Years Experience
Mechanical hedgecutting and Sawblade work
Meadow Topping and Rough Cutting
Chain Harrowing
No Job too Small
Also Tractors and Machinery bought for cash
Runners and Non-Runners
01728 724208
07951191932
Thurlow Nunn Standen Ltd
“Leaders in every field”
www.tnsgroup.co.uk
25% off for the Smallholder
on tractor repairs and servicing
We can offer a wide range of servicing and spare parts
available for all makes and models of tractors
including vintage tractors.
Agriculture and horticultural supplier of animal and
garden equipment for all your small holding needs.
01379 890823
Hinderclay Hall, Hinderclay, Diss IP22 1HN
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We are a local business offering an
affordable and bespoke cutting, curing and
smoking service for private customers and
Smallholders. We provide a tailored, quality
service getting customers the most out of
their animals. Small batch production means
you only get your meat back in your
products.
Let us make the best of your hard work.
Palfrey & Hall, The Food Hub, Bellwell Lane, Debenham, Suffolk, IP14 6JX
Office | 01728 861862 Shaun | 07904 536035 Deaglan | 07828 785646
hello@palfreyandhall.co.uk www.palfreyandhall.co.uk
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@palfreyhall
JAIGER ENGINEERING LTD
The Workshop, Millfield, Cayhill,
Mendleshan Green, Suffolk IP14 5SG
Tel: 01449766441, Mob: Gary
07860708326
Email : gary@jaig.fsbusiness.co.uk
All weldable metals welded, fabricated and
repaired including cast iron, brass, copper,
phos bronze. Stainless steel to hygenic
standards for food, dairy, brewing and chemical
use.
Builders steelwork, fabrication of any bespoke
parts, machinery repairs, and sheet metal work.
On-site mobile welding, drilling and fabrication.
Pipework from small plumbing jobs to welded
pipework and pipe threading from 1/8" BSP to
6" BSP.
Happy to quote for work, no jobs considered to
small, quick turn around
Small storage units, Portacabins and insulated
containers for rent, with or without electricity
in secure yard.
25
Calling all Members
Can you help fill this space with an Advertisement from
a local business you know?
Advertising income provides good revenue for the
Society and businesses will get exposure to over 200
members in our monthly
Newsletter. Prices are £80 per for a full page, £40 for
half a page and £20 for a quarter page (fee for 12
issues) - great value for money and enables
local businesses to also also show their support for the
Suffolk Smallholders Society.
If you can contact any potential businesses you know
and they are interested, please let Martin Hancock and
Giles Barrow know.
BEN LUGSDEN
SHEPHERDING
ALL SHEEP WORK UNDERTAKEN
SHEARING
SHOW PREPARATION
PREGNANCY SCANNING
DAGGING
WORMING
FOOT CARE
ACROSS EAST ANGLIA
CONTACT BENN 07789 683174
bennlugsden@gmail.com
Facebook.com/bennlugsden
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