Over the hedge – Farming Companies

We all like looking over the hedge to see what our neighbours doing, what tracotrs they have, how far on their crops are compared to ours.

This is your chance to look over hedges a bit further a field….. in the UK and the world.

Please feel free to give me any suggestions for content.

Warter Priory Estate.

On the Yorkshire Wolds.

A large arable farm and shoot.

YouTube channel is: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSbCu3iKCKwuuk7m84G8Sqg

Some videos from their farming activities…

Garrowby Estate

Garrowby is home to the Halifax family, who have been part of the community since 1803. At 13,230 acres, Garrowby Estate is the largest estate in the Halifax Estates group. It lies to the east of York.

Agriculture

Garrowby Estate conducts diverse agricultural operations, focusing on in-hand beef and sheep farming with an 80-cow pedigree Limousin herd and on arable farming of crops like oilseed rape, peas, and potatoes. Historically a dairy farming area, the estate now uses land drainage for arable production. In addition to in-hand farming, Garrowby Estate also manages 40 let farms, rents out land for agricultural and equestrian use, and features a stud farm and woodland enterprise for firewood and Christmas trees.

In-Hand Farming

Garrowby Farm: A 320-hectare operation featuring an 80-cow pedigree Limousin herd and a commercial herd of 140 Limousins.
Beef and Lamb: The farm raises beef cattle and sheep for a leading supermarket, with livestock housed indoors in winter and turned out in the spring.
Arable Crops: The 2,000-acre arable enterprise grows winter and spring barley (for malting), oilseed rape, vining peas (for Birdseye), and potatoes.

Let Farms and Land Rental

Tenanted Farms: The estate offers 40 let farms, along with opportunities to rent land for agricultural or equestrian purposes.
Variety of Land: Available land ranges from grazing paddocks to larger arable units with farmhouses and buildings.

Other Agricultural Enterprises

Garrowby Stud: The estate includes a stud farm, founded in 1962, offering boarding services for mares, foals, and other horses.
Forestry: A Head Forester manages a team for timber production, supplying firewood and Christmas trees grown on the estate.

Website is https://www.garrowby.co.uk/farm/

Sledmere Estate

The Sledmere estate currently consists of approximately 8,750 acres, a reduction from its peak in the 19th century when it was over 34,000 acres. The estate includes Sledmere House and its surrounding parkland, a rare breed farm with 2,500 acres of grassland and arable land, and other parts of the historic family estate.

Details of the Sledmere Estate:

Acreage: Around 8,750 acres today.
Peak Acreage: At its highest in the 19th century, the estate covered 34,000 acres.
Components:
- Sledmere House: A historic Georgian mansion set in its own parkland.
- Farming: The estate manages a farm with 500 acres of grassland and over 2,000 acres of arable land.
- Rare Breed Farm: Features a variety of animals such as sheep, chickens, pigs, and Shetland ponies.

The Sledmere Estate’s total farm acreage is approximately 2,500 acres, comprising just over 2,000 acres of arable land and 500 acres of grassland, according to the official Sledmere House website.

Farm Details

Total Acreage: 2,500 acres
Arable Land: Over 2,000 acres, used for crops
Grassland: 500 acres, used for livestock

Livestock

The farm’s livestock enterprises include cattle and sheep, with deer also mentioned on the estate’s Facebook page. The livestock are housed indoors in winter and turned out in the spring, with high health standards maintained for beef and venison supplied to a major supermarket, notes the Sledmere House website.

Website is https://www.sledmerehouse.com/estate/farming

Birdsall Estate

Birdsall Estate is a 12,000-acre farming estate near Malton, North Yorkshire, which includes a large agricultural operation with significant livestock and arable farming enterprises, as well as 800 acres of woodland and various environmental schemes.

Farm Size

The estate covers approximately 12,000 acres.
A significant portion of this land is used for farming, including livestock and arable crops.

Agricultural Activities

Livestock: The estate manages around 3,000 head of cattle, focusing on suckler cow herds.
Arable Farming: The estate includes arable enterprises, predominantly growing combinable crops such as wheat, barley, and oilseed rape.

Environmental and Woodland Management

In addition to agricultural land, the estate maintains about 800 acres of woodland.
Birdsall Estate also participates in various environmental schemes and has four Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Website is https://birdsallestates.co.uk/what-we-offer/landscape-farming/