Easthall Farm is made up of nearly 1,300 acres of land, of which about 230 acres is grassland for cattle to graze. There is also about 500 acres of woodland. We are experimenting with different grazing and cereal planting techniques to improve the soil organic matter. Adding natural fertility to the soil reduces our need for artificial fertilisers, improves the wildlife numbers and is very good for the environment.

The arable year starts in the autumn when fields are drilled (seeded). In early spring any unfinished drilling is completed. In May the first cut of silage grass is taken. Harvesting other crops with the combine is done from July to September, depending on the weather.

We grow a range of crops in a rotation with wheat, oats, beans and barley. We sell our oats to Jordan’s Cereals and are one of their 40 farmers in the Jordan’s Farm Partnership that commit to put at least 10% of their land in wildlife areas.

Cows graze in the fields from early April to the end of October, while the grass grows. The grassland is grazed by a herd of Sussex cows who eat grass silage and straw in the winter months. Our mob grazing system aims to improve soil conditions and avoid use of artificial fertilisers.
Easthall Farm (with Bury Farm) at St Paul’s Walden grows food while preserving the countryside. Supporting wildlife is a central aim with many areas prepared for supporting winter food for birds and nectar rich summer meadows for bees and other insects.

We are a traditional country estate with miles of natural hedgerows linking about 500 acres of mature woodland, scattered across the estate, which provides a habitat for a wide range of native flora and fauna. The woodland is managed to preserve ancient sites and also support new plantations. Hedges have been preserved and the landscape is a charming combination of rolling fields edged by woodland and hedges.

We work hard at improving and enhancing the environment, and have entered into 10 year management plans with Natural England whereby we agree to implement various measures. We belong to the Government’s environmental schemes: the Entry Level and the Higher Level Scheme (ELS and HLS) and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. As part of these schemes, we have, for example, taken 6m wide strips around the edge of many of our fields out of arable production. These are uncultivated and very infrequently mown – once every two or three years, to stop scrub invading – and provide an ideal breeding ground for endangered species like grey partridge.

We are also taking 90 acres of land out of arable production and recreating an historic parkland, using ancient maps from the area as our guide.

Direct Beef Sales
Beef is sold through a box scheme for local delivery. Reared on traditionally managed pastures, meat is hung for 28 days to ensure exceptional flavour. A box contains a selection of roasting joints and cuts: sirloin, rump, stewing, braising, mince. The beef is weighed, labelled and vacuum packed ready for the freezer (one drawer of an upright freezer)
£135 per box – weight minimum 22lbs (10kg.)
Fillet sold separately at £40 per kg
Sales are made on a ‘collection only’ basis, with payment upon collection.
For further information, or to place an order, email spw.beef@gmail.com