Little Comfort Farm extends to around 70 acres and although small encompasses a large mixture of varied habitats with some wonderful culm grassland beside the river Caen, a steep gorse bank and fields of permanent pasture surrounded by Devon banks and hedges.
Since our arrival at the farm in April 2000, we have been aware of its natural beauty and wealth of wildlife and we are keen to manage the land to preserve and enhance this unique valley.
Our intention is to farm the land in a sustainable way as a mixed farm with a suckler herd of Devon Ruby cattle, a flock of hardy sheep, pigs and poultry. The early years will see a grazing system based on grass/clover leys alongside the permenant pastures which will serve to build fertility.Probably from year eight (2009) onwards we will be able to grow some of our own cereals to make the farm more self sufficient in grain and straw, two of the largest brought-in products.
We have been fortunate enough to join the Countryside Stewardship scheme (CSS) which exists to maintain and enhance the countryside benefiting the environment, wildlife and the landscape.The scheme involves a ten year commitment from the farmer concerned to a programme of restoration and management practices for which grant payments are made by DEFRA. At Little Comfort Farm our scheme is based around the requirements of the Greater Horseshoe Bat which is listed on the UK biodiversity action plan as a rare species. There is a breeding colony at Braunton and the bats use our valley as one of their feeding areas.
The works include restoration of the 'devon banks', which form the field boundaries including laying the hedge, repairing the bank and erecting a stockproof fence, coppicing of bankside trees along the river and rejuvenation of an area of scrub.These activities will pvovide a better hunting habitat for the bats who need tall hedges to fly along using their 'radar'. The fields under the CSS management are managed to increase the quantity of food for the bats by allowing a diverse mixture of plants to develop. We do this by not applying lime or fertilizer and avioding damage by vehicles or livestock. We are also restricted in the use of wormers on the cattle ( we are anyway as we are farming organically) as some (ivermectin in particular) is persitant in the droppings which are a food scource for dung beetles and cockchafers which the young bats feed on.Of course all of the management practices also benefit wildlife in general.
This July 22 species of butterfly were identified in one week by some of our visitors !!
The diary below gives some details of the current developments- if you have any questions please email using the form on the contacts page.
Farm Diary October 2006
September has seen some rain at last! The pastures have responded to the rain but it has come too late to produce a lot of grass.So far the pastures remain firm so that the cattle are not causing damage and the grass is holding out-I hope till the end of the month, then we will have to start on our winter supplies of feed.
The first of the gilts (Lara) gave birth to six piglets on Monday 15th October and seem to have settled well.Bertie the Gloucester Old Spot boar is visiting again so hopefully Ellie will produce in four months time.
The rams are ready for work- the 26th is the day so I will need to split the ewes into two groups ready for them.
Fencing is progressing at the top end of the valley so that we should have at stock proof boundary against the footpath for next summer.
This is a view towards Woolacombe from Putsborough beach in September- look at all the people !!!
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