Rural crime is an issue for large areas of the country but it tends to go unreported. It covers agricultural, environmental, heritage and wildlife crime as well as dog theft. It can impact on insurance premiums and food prices and damage local communities. Find out what rural crime is and what can be done to […]
This is a hands on practical workshop for people who would like to learn how to shear sheep. There will be a maximum of 4 students on this workshop, so Mark can teach both hand shearing as well as electrical shearing if this is what attendees would like. He will also teach you how to […]
This years Mid-Summer BBQ is being graciously hosted by Pauline & Colin Burnett-Dick on their stunning farm in Hartfield, right on the edge of the Ashdown Forest. This is a wonderful opportunity to mingle with fellow members, meet new ones, and generally have a good old catch up whilst enjoying the stunning grounds of their […]
Join Rowena & Amos Topping as they teach their goat milking skills, the 9 strong Topping family have been enjoying keeping dairy goats for over a year on their one acre smallholding in Hailsham. They have two adult dairy goats of different breeds – one is a British Saanen (Willow), and the other is a […]
Simon and Rachael have lived on their 28 acre smallholding near Heathfield for 12 years and joined the SGTG in 2011. They run a business in Tunbridge Wells and the farm is run in their “spare” time. The majority of the ground is permanent pasture that is grazed by their sheep. Other livestock that they […]
(This meeting was postponed from February)Our speaker, Martin Hole, farms at Montague on the wetlands of the Pevensey Levels in East Sussex. Part family-owned and part rented, the 300ha (740acres) organic enterprise provides a home to about 150 cattle and nearly 2,000 head of sheep, with a small diversification into residential property and a fledgling […]
Last year we visited Tess and Simon Gray and it was so enjoyable that they have invited us again. We started the afternoon eating homegrown strawberries along with strawberry jam and scones (which are Simon's speciality!) It was such fun sitting outside scoffing scones and catching up with everyone after a miserable Covid winter. Tess […]
Becky and Pete moved from Brighton to Misty Acres at Lower Horsebridge just over a year ago. Having found the Small Farm Training Group, both of them have been enjoying some of our workshops and events and are rapidly becoming part of their new countryside community. Becky is showing a real love and passion for […]
In this workshops you will learn basic willow weaving skills and make a dragonfly. This workshop is suitable for children over 12 but they need to be accompanied by an adult. Richard Vidal, is going to be our tutor. He has recently retired from the civil service to spend more time with his passion for […]
The plan is : Saturday - beginners teaching day for setting up and using scythes - so scythes and blades must be available for purchase Sunday: Hay making. we need to start early (before the dew evaporates) so there is a possibility of camping overnight. Costs and tutors being sorted by Marie. She has promised […]
The plan is : Saturday - beginners teaching day for setting up and using scythes - so scythes and blades must be available for purchase Sunday: Hay making. we need to start early (before the dew evaporates) so there is a possibility of camping overnight. Costs and tutors being sorted by Marie. She has promised […]
The SFTG is organising a hay making weekend (30/31st July) using traditional techniques. A scything workshop for beginners will be taught on the Saturday and then on the Sunday beginners and anyone else who would like to come and make hay will start scything (the more the merrier!). Austrian scythes are great for cutting grass […]