Open Farm Sundey 2022
Thank you to everyone that make our Open Farm Sunday event such a huge success! The sun was shining, and we had a brilliant turnout of families from near and far. Highlights included the milking competition and the tree trail. A big thank you neighbouring farmers and friends who helped including: Angela and Bev, who raised a fantastic amount for Prospect Hospice making teas, coffees and cakes. The Lewis family for their delicious BBQ and bringing the small grazing animals, the Ryall family for bringing the most enormous tractor and slurry tank and running the milking competition, and to Wild Church for hosting the bee and blossom service in the Orchard.
Sundey Hill Farm is leading the way into Summer 2022. The farm gates will be open to the public for farming’s annual open day next month and the farm itself is at the centre of a newly formed farming group, The Braydon Forest Future Association.
Sundey Hill Farm is a small pasture farm nestled amongst the many beef and dairy farms in Brinkworth. The farm is carefully managed, with permanent grassland, grazed by horses and also cut for hay. There is an abundance of wildlife, with featured habitats such as ponds and a wildflower meadow. It is also home to Sophie Scruton, director of Horsell’s Farm Enterprises. ‘Sundey Hill Farm is an incredibly special place, one that is unique and here we like to turn grass into ideas. As well as opening the farm for Open Farm Sunday, we run philosophy summer schools, and there is an exciting future ahead for the BFFA.’ says Sophie.
Open Farm Sunday – 12th June 2022
11am - Gates open
11-12am - Meet the animals, there will be horses, chickens, dairy, and cattle
12 - 1pm - Fernhill BBQ, please also feel free to bring your own picnic
1.15pm - Wild Church - Bees and Blossom Service in the Orchard
2.30pm - Farm Walk with Sophie, a guided walk around the farm taking in Iris Pond, the Wildflower meadow, exploring hedgerows and our wonderful trees in the Braydon Forest.
3.30pm - Gates close.
Wild Church, Church but maybe not as you know it…great for families and children, dogs welcome too! Its all about joining in and thinking together. Rev Matt will be leading a ‘Bee’s and Blossom’ service in the Sundey Hill farm Orchard, beginning at 1.15pm.
Get your boots on for the guided farm walk at 2.30pm, Sophie will take you to the best and most beautiful parts of the farm. Look out for the birds, bees, blossom, and butterflies not to mention the wonderful old oak trees that form the connection between the farms in the Braydon Forest.
The Braydon Forest Future Association was formed in 2019 by lead farmer Sophie Scruton and Jonny Cooper from the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. The BFFA covers a unique area connected by features of the landscape, and in April 2022, with the help of Edward Earnshaw, the group became a recognised ‘farm cluster’. The cluster has been successful in securing funding from the Countryside Stewardship facilitation fund and will aim to achieve a more coordinated approach to environmentally friendly and sustainable farming within the group.
