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26 Smallholding Guide Get Your Slice Of Rural Heaven Introducing Chase End Alpacas… Domesticated thousands of years ago in the mountains of South America, alpacas have become a common sight in paddocks across the UK. Farmed for their fleece, alpacas are flock animals that make a great addition to any smallholding. Situated in Orsett Heath, Essex, Chase End Alpacas consists of 41 (number 42 is on the way) Huacaya alpacas in a mixture of colours, including white, fawn, brown, grey and a few mixed colours. Owners Joe and Ann Hempsey fell in love with these curious creatures about seven years ago after buying four pregnant females. Ann said: “We started small and gradually added to our herd and it now consists of five working stud males, three wethers, with more to be added, five cria, with one more due soon, and lots of females, including yearlings and mums. We’re happy to consider selling any of herd and we’re happy to welcome visitors to the farm, we just ask that you call and make an appointment beforehand.” As well as providing high quality breeding stock to add to your herd, Chase End Alpacas also offer stud and livery services, as Ann explained: “We have five working stud males, four of whom have produced excellent offspring in the past; our other boy hasn’t had the opportunity to prove himself yet! As well as studs, we also provide a livery service; this is ideal for anyone who wants to buy alpacas but doesn’t yet have the land.” For further information on either, please call Joe or Ann on 01375 399711. Ann added: “Anyone who buys alpacas from us is always guaranteed a good variety of high quality alpacas to choose from, as well as help, advice and back up for as long as they need it. Joe and I remember what it was like when we first started out, so we like to help anyone that requires our help; we’re always at the end of a phone.” Joe & Ann Hempsey Chase End Farm Hornsby Lane Orsett Heath Essex RM16 3AU www.chase-end-alpacas.co.uk
27 An increasing number of people are quitting the rat race and choosing to live a simpler existence in the country, away from the frustrating traffic jams and bustling crowds often experienced in the city. Life in the beautiful English countryside provides us with a more relaxing and tranquil way of life, without the city worries of crime and noise, as well as giving our lungs a break from the constant smog of pollution. Whether you buy a delightful stone cottage in the heart of a small village or a secluded farmhouse away from everything, life in the country offers a peaceful, relaxed and laid-back lifestyle. Part of this new lifestyle which many of us crave includes taking control over what you feed your family and with a huge back garden, or even a paddock to make the most of, a move to the country is the perfect opportunity to start a smallholding. The easiest way to begin, is by growing your own vegetables; from tomatoes and potatoes to courgettes and sweetcorn, and even a herb garden, the possibilities for growing your own food are endless. If you’d like to add some animals, one of the most rewarding are chickens. Buy birds from a reputable breeder, buy good quality housing to protect your birds against dangers, such as foxes, and finally, ensure you feed them a balanced diet and you’ll be rewarded with fresh eggs every morning and happy, thriving birds. You could go one step further by investing in the array of different livestock that are suitable for smallholdings... The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated species, originally from South America, developed from the wild vicuña. They resemble a sheep in appearance, but are larger and have a long erect neck. Traditionally, alpacas were kept in herds that grazed on the level heights of the Andes of Ecuador, southern Peru, northern Bolivia, and northern Chile throughout the year. Alpacas have been domesticated for thousands of years and are now growing in popularity in this country, as people seek their slice of rural heaven. Although alpacas were traditionally farmed for their meat in their native lands, this isn’t the case in this country. Alpaca farms across the UK farm the animal for its fibre. Alpaca fibre is warmer and lighter in weight than sheep’s wool. It is soft and luxurious, however, as with all fleece-producing animals, quality varies from animal to animal. The fibre comes in more than 22 natural colours and an annual shearing will produce between 1-6lb (0.8kg-2.8kg) of very fine fibre, depending on the individual animal – top stud males can reach annual shear weights of 6kg. Pigs are another excellent choice for smallholders as they are not at risk from predators, as chickens are, and they can easily be penned. As porkers can be ready for the butcher at just six-months-old, you’ll be enjoying sizzling bacon and succulent joints of pork before you know it. There are many different breeds you can choose to rear, including the Berkshire, British Saddleback, Gloucestershire Old Spots and the Mangalitza. Another great option for maintaining any spare land you have is by keeping sheep. Sheep are not only a great way to avoid mowing a large area of grass, they’re also a great way to provide an extra income for your family. Sheep produce good quality wool, which can be sold; sheep are known to be prolific milk and cheese producers and they can be sold for their meat. If you’ve never owned sheep before, the Gotland breed is ideal as they not only produce beautiful fleeces (ideal for spinning or felting) but they’re also easy to lamb (lambs grow fast and are active from birth) and have a hardy and adaptive nature. The wide open spaces, combined with the lack of traffic and the chance to ‘fend for yourself’, allow your family to reap the numerous benefits of country life. Enjoying The Good Life At Over Hall Farm The concept of growing and rearing your own food isn’t a new one, but with food prices steadily increasing and organic food in particular amongst the most expensive, it’s time to enjoy a slice of the good life. One family who have fully embraced this ethos are the Rigbys, whose smallholding has steadily transformed itself into farm over the last 40 years, as owner, Jean, explains: “We moved into Over Hall in the early 1970s and it all just grew from there. We started with a few chickens, so that we could take advantage of their eggs, and then the geese, who make excellent burglar alarms, and ducks arrived. The latter consist of various breeds, including Indian runners and Aylesbury ducks.” After getting to grips with caring for their foul, the family introduced sheep to Over Hall Farm, in particular the rare breed Jacobs, a small piebald type, and the North Ronaldsay, who originate from the northernmost Orkney Isle of the same name. Both breeds produce meat with distinct flavour, whilst the former’s woolly coat has also proved to be of great use, as Jean explains: “I didn’t want the wool to go to waste, so I kept it and sent it off to be spun – it’s great for knitting with.” Next came the Saddleback and Berkshire pigs, who the family describe as easy to care for, and beautiful peacocks, before the latest additions – a Highland fold – arrived just last year. The cattle have proved to be a major talking point in the Rigbys’ quiet village of Bretherton, near Preston in Lancashire, and will be bred for both their meat and hides. Jean says: “We rear the cows, sheep and pigs for their meat, which is really appreciated locally; it’s all organic and the animals are very well reared. Our beef, lamb and pork has proved to be quite popular and we have a very friendly local butcher who does our sausages for us, whilst the village pub will be using one of our pigs for their hog roast in August and occasionally have joints from us too.” For the Rigby family, their slice of the good life just keeps on growing, Jean adds: “We have quite a wide variety of animals here and whilst we enjoy consuming the produce we make, it’s an interesting hobby more than anything – I’m a country woman born and bred.” To find out more about Over Hall Farm or any of its residents, call Jean on 07795 663322 or email jean_rigby@btinternet.com
Page 1 and 2: free Quench your thirst with our Go
Page 3 and 4: 03 Enjoy Great Food & Great Enterta
Page 5 and 6: Image courtesy of Buckinghamshire R
Page 7 and 8: 07 Be Treated Like Royalty At The Q
Page 9 and 10: Anna Kennedy 09 Autism Awareness Wi
Page 11 and 12: 11 Further It is possible to live v
Page 13 and 14: Wistow Maze 13 BEE A-MAZED… What
Page 15 and 16: 15 is Summer At Ski Centre WIN We
Page 17 and 18: 17 Birmingham Back to Backs Steam T
Page 19 and 20: 19 Rescuing approximately 170 birds
Page 21 and 22: Holidays 21 Gumfreston Hotel “We
Page 23 and 24: If you love the great outdoors, you
Page 25: New Era Academy 25 Scoop Certificat
Page 29 and 30: Independent Living 29 Regain Your I
Page 31 and 32: Brown J Son Ferguson 01414 291234 s
Page 33 and 34: 33 Reflect Editor, Elaine Ellis, sa
Page 35 and 36: 35 Say Farewell the Natural Way At
Page 37: Look out for issue 049, on the 21st

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