Becklands Farm is situated in rolling hills of West Dorset in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It lies within the 'Jurassic Coast', a designated a World Heritage Geological Site because of its unique fossil deposits. Becklands has been farmed organically by two generations of the same family for fifty eight years and lies in the west of the Marshwood Vale famed for its wild flowers, narrow lanes, traditional hedges and patchwork fields.
The farm boasts over a hundred different wild flowers and some 47 species of bird in addition to badgers, buzzards, wild pheasants, foxes and rabbits. A quiet, working organic farm (Soil Association) of 12.5 hectares, Becklands has a small flock of Dorset Poll sheep and a few hens. When our flock numbered 700, Becklands' hens were featured in two drawings by pastel artist Nina Squire - see thepastelartist.co.uk.
The farm boasts over a hundred different wild flowers and some 47 species of bird in addition to badgers, buzzards, wild pheasants, foxes and rabbits. A quiet, working organic farm (Soil Association) of 12.5 hectares, Becklands has a small flock of Dorset Poll sheep and a few hens. When our flock numbered 700, Becklands' hens were featured in two drawings by pastel artist Nina Squire - see thepastelartist.co.uk.
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Bocking 14 comfrey produces a profusion of lilac/pink flowers and is a variety of comfrey which does not seed. Propagation is by root cutting only. It is very hardy, needs to be well watered and grows happily on most soils. It dies down to nothing in the autumn and re-emerges in March/April, depending on your local conditions.
Becklands Farm has been monitored by the RSPB to determine how many species of bird the farm hosts. We have counted 47 ourselves and still counting. We are currently in our third Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) of landscape improvements and maintenance which lasts until 2022. Parts of the farm land are kept wild for the preservation of wildlife and we leave wide, wild edges uncut in arable fields.
We were delighted to be asked to be one of five organic farms throughout Britain to be visited in 2006 as inspiration for The Five Seasons. This is an enchanting piece of choral music commissioned by the Bournemouth Sinfonietta to reflect the organic landscape of our times.
The second movement is entitled Grading Eggs and was inspired by the grading of eggs which the composer, Cecilia Mc Dowell and poet Christie Dickason undertook while staying with us.
The second movement is entitled Grading Eggs and was inspired by the grading of eggs which the composer, Cecilia Mc Dowell and poet Christie Dickason undertook while staying with us.
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