Bradfield Hall Farm is a traditional working farm in beautiful North Norfolk and passed down three generations of the Alston family. Hugh Alston is the current owner (pictured) and Bradfield is now an arable farm of five hundred acres growing wheat, barley, potatoes and sugar beet.

Hugh has always farmed in a way sympathetic to the wildlife on his farm. During the working day Hugh would regularly see roe and muntjac deer, kestrels, foxes, kingfishers and even the odd marsh harrier and ever conscious of news headlines about the decline in farmland habitat Hugh has set about ensuring Bradfield remains a haven for wildlife.

Wide margins have been added around all the fields, native trees and hedgerows around the farm re-planted and beetle banks introduced to the middle of fields to act as an island refuge for small mammals and insects.

In 1998, when the decline in farmland birds in particular really started to be reported, Hugh decided to start making a list of all the birds seen on the farm and encouraged visitors to do the same. Off the back of those records and concerned that bird numbers weren't as high as they could be, he set up a series of feeding stations around the farm and a small conservation area. Results were spectacular and flocks of goldfinch, yellowhammer and sparrows are now a common sight.

Hugh now sells wild bird food, the same bespoke mixes and straight seeds he uses for his own birds, with proceeds going towards maintaining the conservation area.

The farm has also diversified and for visitors that wish to stay a little longer, Bradfield now has a small quiet five pitch caravan site, great for children of all ages and dog-friendly.

Bradfield now lets farm buildings to local businesses for workshops and storage. One of our longest residents is the local dog training and obedience school, Animal Magic. Animal Magic holds regular classes year round and sessions are fun, energetic and open to locals and holiday makers alike. Visit animal-magix.co.uk for more details.