Dates for 2010

Farm Open Day - Open Farm Sunday - Sunday 13th June
Shabden Farm Picnic - Saturday 24th July

For a few days of the year, we open the farm to the public. Our open days focus on events in the farming year and aim to provide an opportunity for visitors to experience first hand and learn more about farming activities and how they fit into our farming system and the industry at large. We hope that these events will help visitors to understand how our farming system allows us to manage the countryside for wildlife and how our farming and conservation activities are interlinked.
All open days open from 10am until 4pm.

Visitors are advised to bring wellies or boots to open days.     Sorry no dogs allowed.

For photos of previous farm open days, visit the Gallery.

Open Farm Sunday     Sunday 13th June 2010 

Introduction

Come and join Mark and Kirstie, Sam and Tui, and various family helpers, our Countryside Ranger Bob Crompton and Katy and Sophie from Surrey Wildlife Trust for a fun packed day at the Farm to celebrate Open Farm Sunday 2010.
Meet the animals, go on a tractor ride, watch Farmer Mark shearing the sheep and working the sheep dogs, visit the Back to Nature Farm Shop, enjoy some local produce from the farmers market and join Ranger Bob for a guided walk (please see event below). There will also be face painting, sales goods, refreshments and much more.

Our sows farrow regularly and you will be able to look in on the piglets and older pigs, as well as other farm animals.
Our chestnut Sussex cows are in the fields with their calves at foot, but you may see them if you go on a farm walk, along with the young rearing cattle.

Farm Walks

Admission & Refreshments

Competitions

Children's activities

The children's corner will keep kids busy with themed colouring and craft activities. Kids can have their face painted and parents may be surprised how much interest children have in the shearing and working sheep dog demonstrations.

Farm Shop and Farmers' Market

The farm shop will be open all day selling our lamb, beef and pork, as well as local chicken, chutneys and sauces, and juice. Click here to visit the farm shop. An extra Shabden Farmers' market, the monthly farmers' market held here on the farm will be open from 10am until 2pm.

Demonstrations

As well as the lambing shed to look at, Farmer Mark will be giving demonstrations of sheep shearing with modern and antique shearing equipment, and working sheep dog demonstrations. Find out what 'left' and 'right' are in sheep dog language, and see if you can command the dog to bring the sheep to you.
Mark will give sheep-shearing demonstrations every half an hour or so with modern day electrical shearing equipment and, to compare how technology has changed, with an antique hand-wound shearing machine. The handpiece is very heavy and has interchangeable cutters which must be kept sharp in order to shear the fleece in one go without pulling or getting stuck. Mark will demonstrate the special technique for holding the sheep and explain the process during which the fleece is shorn.

The Open Day will give visitors the chance to find out about wool processing and spinning. We are lucky to enjoy the company of the Epsom Spinners, who demonstrate hand spinning, carding, weaving and other wool processing techniques. The ladies also bring friendship bracelet kits, which are very popular, and some of their handicrafts for sale. Everyone has a chance to spin their own piece of wool to take home. The Epsom Spinners are a group of the East Surrey Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers.

We are running this open day as part of the national Open Farm Sunday network of events. Click here for more information.

Shabden Farm Picnic

This is our summer picnic event, which combines sheep dog trial, farmers market and farm open day.
Bring your family and a rug or chairs, pick up a picnic box and buy your food and drink from the well stocked farmer's market and farm shop. Then settle down to watch shepherds and their dogs compete against the clock, manoeuvring a group of sheep around a challenging course. A wide selection of delicious, quality, locally produced goods will be on sale at the farmers market, to eat on the day and to take home with you. You can learn about traditional country and woodland skills and view the farm animals in their home surroundings. Come along, talk to the farmers and shepherds and at the end of the day discover who has won the top prize.
Click here for more details on the Farm Picnic.