Arable
The rolling landscape with a wide range of soil types supports a varied crop rotation.
Winter wheat is grown as milling wheat for flour production and supplied to mills across southern and central England. Winter barley is supplied for animal feed while spring barley is grown for malting.
Break crops between cereals include oilseed rape which produces a small, black seed from which oil is extracted for use in cooking, fuels and industrial products. Peans and beans are grown for their high protein content and they also help to capture nitrogen for the following crop. Spring oats are a low input cereal that tolerate some of lower quality soils and can be made into foods such as porridge or cereal bars.
We can process and store the harvest produce in our grain facility at Hampstead Norreys, giving a continuous supply throughout the year.
Livestock are being brought back into the farming system through the introduction of diverse herbal leys on less productive land which are grazed by cattle. Sheep graze over winter cover crops to recycle valuable nutrients ahead of returning fields ready for spring crops.
Rare Breeds
In 1996 Lady Iliffe started The Frilsham Herd of Pedigree British White cattle. The herd consists of 25 cows and calves.
British White Cattle are a rare and ancient breed. The characteristics of a British White are a white body capped with black ears and nose with four black socks.
The cattle graze the parkland at Yattendon and are shown at agricultural shows in Southern England.
The herd won the Randolph Turpin Trophy for the best herd of British White Cattle in 2006, and also in the 2006 the British White Championship at the Royal County of Berkshire Show.
Woodland
Yattendon occupies a very picturesque mixed landscape of wooded valleys leading to the open downs above Streatley. The woodlands extend to some 990 hectares (2,100 acres) and cover approximately 25% of the Estate.
The woods are a mixture of broadleaf and coniferous woodlands managed on a continuous canopy philosophy in accordance with a Forestry Commission approved management plan.
In 2013 a ‘generation’ plan commenced to bring all of the woodlands back into productive capacity to enable the woods to provide fuel for biomass heating and firewood, wood chip, high quality hard and softwoods for construction projects.
Engagement
The estate regularly welcomes groups from local schools and industry. We can tailor any farm visits to specific areas of interest so if you would like to arrange a visit to Yattendon, please contact us.
