smallfarms

Our Farms

Our farms share the stunning countryside and fertile red sandstone soil for which the Wye Valley is famous. We are committed to producing the highest quality food in an environmentally sound and sustainable way. The health and well being of our animals is central to that. We want to re-engage people in the processes and practices of producing their food.

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The Ciliau and Lower Porthamel are certified organic. Organic farming is a modern, sustainable farming system which uses less of the earth’s finite resources to maintain a long-term fertility of the soil, while produce high quality nutritious food. Certified farms are strictly regulated and so it is only certification which can guarantee properly organic methods are being followed.

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Artificial fertilisers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives are prohibited.

Ciliau

The Ciliau is a two hundred acre farm running up from the banks of the River Wye above Hay-on-Wye. The land rises from  the river meadow towards and around the ‘Garth’, a large and prominent bracken covered hill, which in turn is dominated by a large hill fort. The field pattern has not changed much since the forest was cleared in the fourteenth century. The farm is studded with mature oak and ash trees, as well as some areas of more extensive woodland. There are three Sights of Special Interest (SSSI) on the farm. The river banks, helping to protect wildlife, including otters; a twenty acre area of wetland, one of the largest in Radnorshire, that has a large variety of wildflowers and thousands of butterflies; and the house itself, that harbours one of the largest colonies of Lesser Horseshow Bats.

All the barns are of great historic interest, and most are listed. The land has never been intensively farmed, and is now fully organic with most of the grassland unchanged. The Ciliau provides the summer grazing for the cattle from Lower Porthamel.

Proprietor: Roger Capps
Address: Ciliau, Llanstephan, Builth Wells

Acreage: 200

Certification: Organic Farmers & Growers

Lower Porthamel

Lower Porthamel is situated one mile north of Talgarth, just outside the Brecon Beacons National Park. It is a lowland farm combining arable land and meadow pasture with valuable environmentally important areas. Our farm is renowned for its high quality crops and livestock produced on the fine Breconshire red sandstone soil, which is very fertile and easily worked.

We currently run a herd of pedigree North Devon cattle which calve all-year-round to ensure a regular supply of beef to our butchers’ shop in Hay-on-Wye. We also have a herd of Hereford crosses which are put to our Devon bull to produce a slightly leaner carcass, allowing us to offer a wider variety of beef. All our cattle are finished on grass silage and home-grown cereals.

We are part of The Countryside Council for Wales Tir Gofal scheme which encourages agricultural practices that protect and enhance the landscape. The beautiful River Llynfi meanders for a mile through our river pastures and is home to several otter families.

Proprietors: Matthew and Hayley Johnson
Address: Lower Porthamel, Talgath

Acreage: 170

Certification: Organic Farmers & Growers