Welcome
Harvest 2024, after a very wet spring the weather finally became dryer and the crops were harvested throughout July and August.
Spraying the Wheat in June
Lambing March 2024 - Fyn keeping watch on the newborn lambs, while we move them into the barn.
October 2023 - pumpkin time!
December 2022
What a month of weather, the snow and ice for a week the day after we closed the barn brought with it new challenges for the farm. Frozen water pipes meant no running water for the cattle sheds, water tanks in the sheep fields and our chickens, geese and ducks! We were back to manual watering via a defrosted hose pipe and large portable water tank!
We brought all the sheep home from local grazing, which makes feeding easier over the Christmas period. We are hoping most of the ewes are carrying lambs, which is due to be confirmed when they are scanned soon. This helps us to know how many twins or single lambs we are to expect next February, March.
Following a busy 14 days of tree selling this year, the barn was only open for a short time. But it was good to catch up with some familiar faces and be able to offer some local produce as well. The wreaths, potatoes, eggs and honey are always popular. We hope to be open again next year.
November 2022
PUMPKIN harvest is over, we have a few left and will feed them to our livestock, nothing goes to waste. We are hoping to fence around the perimiter of the patch which will also incorporate some stubble turnips we planted mid-August and allow our sheep to graze through the coming months.
Meanwhile the winter crops have all been sown. The cattle are all now at home in sheds for the winter. Some new calves have come in from our supplier for rearing once they are weaned from milk. Our chickens and water fowl birds are now inside again for the 3rd year running likely to be from October - April 2023, this is a legal requirement due to the number of cases of Avian flu. There have been 247 reported cases of (HPAI) H5N1 in England since October 2021 and we get regular updates from ALPA Animal and Plant Health Agency and DEFRA Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
We are now busy getting the barn ready for the delivery of Nordman and Norway spruce trees in time for our 18th year of selling Christmas trees. We will be having a fresh delivery of Picasso potatoes from Tasty Tates in Ramsey for sale.
PUMPKINS
Following the seeds being directly sown at the end of May the plants have grown very well. They are looking good at the moment and we hope that they will continue to do so, despite the lack of rain forecast. Below shows how well the fruits are developing, but also how some of the leaves are showing signs of stress due to lack of water.
April 2022
The barn at Histon may have been closed since December 2021 but that does not mean we have been quiet on the farm!
We started our first batch of lambing around 15th February and finished towards the end of March. Following the introduction of a ram later in the season we are in the process of a few more from some young first time lambers to some with more experience! Most are all out to grass now and enjoying the Spring sunshine.
The last of the Spring crops have been sown and fertiliser is added to the fields to encourage healthy growth. It is a dry spring so far, but we hope the crops will thrive. First sprays to the Winter Wheat is also being applied, but as always we are dependant on the weather conditions as to when it can be applied.
Repairing machinery and fences to keep the animals from straying over boundaries are priorities for this time. Grass seed sowing. We are also thinking about the pumpkins and seed planting once again!
December 2021
Our 16th year of supplying Nordman trees for the Christmas period, a busy 3 weeks before the Festive season.
November 2021
Getting ready for the Christmas tree season, clearing the barn.
October 2021
The 🎃 harvest is over, we had a great half term and any left over 🎃 have been collected and will help feed our cattle during the coming weeks.
Continue with land cultivation and seed planting for arable crops for 2022.
September 2021
The arable Harvest is over!
Crops in the ground this year included:
Winter wheat, barley, beans.
Spring barley, peas and oats.
Now its time to get the land cultivated and ready to sow the winter crops before the weather changes and the conditions become too wet.
Spring barley harvest started end of July.
Buxhall and Mansel Farms are both working mixed farms (farmed by one farmer) of arable and livestock just North of Cambridge.
Mansel Farm in Oakington is the main farm holding and where the livestock are housed during the winter months.
Buxhall Farm in Histon, primarily arable land and home to the pumpkin patch and Christmas tree barn.
April / May - We continue to apply fertiliser for the crops and think about the annual pumpkin patch with seeds and planting, together with spraying the emerging spring crops.
Turning cattle / sheep and lambs out to grazing. Continual daily care for livestock. Think about shearing the sheep early Summer repairing and moving fences.
June - Hay and silage cutting / rowing / baling / carting / stacking. Pumpkin planting
July / August weaning lambs, harvesting the arable crops.
Open today on this beautiful chilly Autumnal morning at 10am.
Sorry there is NO PARKING ON THE FIELD at the farm, the yard is for turning round and loading pumpkins and produce only.
Please use local roads and side streets.
Please remember to bring bags for your 🎃oh and suitable footwear if your going to find your own in the muddy field, such good fun!
We have Picasso potatoes from our friends in Ramsey, local honey from Oakington and eggs too.
The kettle will be on for hot drinks and there are new selections of yummy homemade cakes!
We will be closed from 24,26 and 26th Oct
Reopening again Friday 27th at 10am.
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃
