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Bradfield has three miles of nature walks around one hundred acres of arable farmland, alder carr woodland, streams, open water and pasture. The walks are child-friendly and dogs are allowed, though we request they are kept on a lead. Do remember to bring suitable clothing on your walk and sturdy shoes as the weather can change mid-way through your walk. Binoculars to spot deer, owls and foxes are a must!
Maps of the walks you can take are kept in the wild bird food shop on the farm and don't forget to let us know what you thought of your visit to Bradfield by leaving us a message at the farm shop or email is with your photos and comments at enquiries@bradfieldhallfarm.co.uk |
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There is always something happening at Bradfield Hall Farm. As each season comes and goes there are differing sights, activities and challenges - whether it's working on the farm or watching the wildlife on the nature walks. This page will give you a taste of what's going on at Bradfield this season.
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7th March
The weather has improved quite considerably of late having been very dry and cold for over a week. Over the last couple of days the temperature has risen to above seasonal average which has allowed us to start planting our crops for this year.
We're currently planting, or 'drilling', spring barley on Market Style Field and Grove Field. The variety we're planting this year is called 'Tipple' and is used for malting in local breweries. We're lucky as Norfolk, particularly regions near the coast, and some of the surrounding counties are some of the best parts of the UK to grow good quality malting barley and the varieties we grow usually go for a premium.
This year I'm also keen to drill a field of spring beans as a 'Break Crop'. It's the first time I've grown this crop so I'll be learning as I go along. Watch this space!
I'll be consulting my Agronomist and some of my farming friends who have grown it before.
We grow Break Crops to help put nitrogen back into the soil. Nitrogen is a key element needed by plants to grow and is a key component of all garden and agricultural fertilisers. Take a look next time your get your Miracle Grow out.
Spring beans are a 'leguminous' plant that capture ('fix') the inert gas nitrogen from the air and store it in 'nodules' at their roots. When we come to harvest the beans we then plough those roots back into the soil adding that much needed nitrogen into the field.
Cereal crops such as the wheat and barley remove nitrogen from the soil during their growing cycle. So by planting these beans I'll be able to reduce the amount of fertiliser I need to add next year.
15th November 2009
The common theme over the next few weeks will be rain. Driving winds and inches of rain has left its mark on the farm with saturated fields and trees nearly devoid of their leaves. However today has dawned fine, mild and bright with azure skies hanging over the last of the russet oak leaves and bright rowan berries in the hedgerows around the farm.
The interval of the fine Sunday weather brought some familiar faces back to the farm to stock up on their bird food.
Among them were the Rosemary and Clive who stopped to have a chat and updated me on what they'd seen on their walks at Bradfield over the last few months. It proved to be quite a list but here are some of their highlights..... |
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It's great to hear what people see and with many of the birds on Clive and Rosemary's list having Amber conservation status it shows that the work we're doing to conserve the habitat on the farm is working.
It's not only the birds that are benefiting. My frequent visitors, the roe deer, were out in force on Grove field. Just as I finished topping up the feeding station six hinds wandered out of the Alder wood on Grove field and started grazing the old pasture in the evening sun. Topping off a great Sunday on the farm. |
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