Our Story

Sunnymead Farm is a small 4th generation farm, now being managed by Emily and Brendan. The farm is located just outside of Wivenhoe on the road to Alresford. In the past the farm has solely been arable production. Four years ago when we took over, we decided to introduce a number of rare breed species to the farm in order to help preserve the more vulnerable farming breeds. Animals have always been a huge passion of Emily's, as she is a Vet Nurse at Colne Valley Veterinary Surgery. It is this passion that has driven them to provide great local produce, raised in a well spaced ethical manner.

 

The pigs on the farm are rare breed Berkshire pigs, and the sheep are very rare Castlemilk Moorit. We also have water buffalo with European origins, and many varieties of rare breed chickens and ducks. 

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We have been selling our produce since 2018, directly from the farm by order, as well as from Wivenhoe and Alresford markets. 

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The farm has 50 acres of arable land in production but the majority of that goes to neighbouring farms. We grow wheat and beans to feed the buffalo in winter, and the chickens all year round.

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Apart from the Water buffalo which are only housed in the winter to keep them out the cold, all the animals are kept outdoors throughout the year in as close to a natural manner as possible. We believe that a free range system works best and allows the best flavour to come through in the meat.

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The farm has many environmental areas. There are 40 acres of woodland, 3 lakes with islands, reed-beds, a cliff face, wildflower meadows and wildflower margins around all the arable fields.

 

We have recently planted 11,000 trees for a new wooded area as well as hedgerows. There is also 20 acres of heathland, recently established. These areas help to encourage turtle doves, lapwings, terns, bees, invertebrates, birds of prey, numerous water birds and sand martins. Maintaining these environments is made easier by using the farm animals.