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 A small group of us meet for lunch beforehand at the Compasses Inn. Very nice it was too. The farm is split across two sites and we met at the rented allotment site in the village. Their other site is where they keep their livestock – pigs and hens etc is owned by a member.
Futurefarms is a co-operative, set up in early 2004, whose purpose is to grow food within the parish of Martin in Hampshire, for sale to the people who live there. They are a non-profit making enterprise - all proceeds from the sale of our food are used to cover costs and to build up the business.
No one knew what to expect, except that the idea of self confessed non gardeners managing a community based smallholding venture was well worth travelling to see. Local Nick Snelgare, who wanted to feed Martin with local produce, originated the idea but now a committee of 8 now manages the Farm with members and volunteers doing the groundwork. At the allotment site, we were met by group stalwarts Janet Richards (allotments & veg grower as well as treasurer), Margaret Scobins (Director) and Mark Barns who showed us around and explained how the group had evolved.
They had done very well. It was a small but growing enterprise. They sell table birds and pork at the farm gate and at Martin village hall on Saturday mornings and recently, on Tuesday afternoons as well. |
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 This was a truly inspiring visit. Amazingly, there are Bison Centre in them there hills! There being Bush Farm Bison Centre, nestled at the southern end of the little village of West Knoyle. Eleven of us pitched up in the sheltered car park within a few minutes, out came a bright light blue sky. Unusually, no one in our group had visited the Centre – the anticipation of seeing Bison, Prairie dogs and Elk wandering about the valley had us atwitter with excitement as we walked up the driveway to gather in front of the gallery.
The farm itself is impressive. 130 acres in total and entirely without public footpaths (a very necessary pre requisite for a Bison farm), with about 30 acres of woodland, secluded camping areas, sheltered café (though we chose alfresco) and a lovely feel to the whole place. This astonishing enterprise is run by one couple with a bit of volunteer student help, the inspirational Colin & Pepe Seaford, who were truly charming hosts.
They started their original herd with 4 animals from Chester Zoo. They had 22 when they arrived at Bush Farm and now have 86 in total, split into two herds.
We gathered in the gallery, lined with maps, illustrations, pictures, skins, bison trophies and lots more for an introductory talk from the host. He was most eloquent.
The long and the short of it was we all agreed Bison were the natural animal of England in that they are the indigenous bovine of the north and before the continents split, ranged across north America and Europe. What became European Bison roamed across Poland, Ukraine, Germany and the UK, right up to the appalachian mountains. As continents developed so did Bison with thicker fur and larger bodies predominating in the north and smaller, less hersuit races in the south (Yaks in China, Gaur in India, Koupray in Bornio) there were Bison right across central Europe.
 Then we were off in the trailer to see the beasts. We started off slowly at the top of a hill and descended along a path to the bottom of a hill, passing a man made lake with a wooden duck hide perched on the far shore and up again to meet the brow of the next hill. And there we stopped and there they were!
Bison are truly enormous beasts. All front haunch, with enormous heads and shoulders covered in silky, curly wool which they shed on the ground (and Colin picks up for sale) all set on incongruously slim hind quarters, so that looked at from the side on, the hind legs seem as though they might be in a half squat….. The Bush Farm Bison we observed were calm, formal creatures that, like bees, are very capable of living independently of human interference. In this climate, the herd over winters indoors though, from November when the ground is too wet, till the following spring. Indoors, they need four times the space as cattle. At about three years old, they start to come into season in august to calve the following spring. Though Colin reports that calving is getting later and later. Also, they are not over fond of physical proximity and familiarity, with little or no touching, nuzzling etc amongst themselves. Curious, given the enormous numbers in bison herds rubbing along together all over the plains! Perhaps that is why it is best to keep one’s distance. Our host assured us they were familiar with the routine and we soon relaxed, though I don’t think anyone tried stroking. Colin reports that unlike cattle, they are very easy to look after and rarely fall ill. He gives them a shot of copper twice a year and that is pretty much it!
They had arranged themselves in independent little family groups. With a top bull and females (about 1 bull to 10 females at Bush Farm). This group of about 40 was older, with only one or two calves. Most thrilling, the bull was making deep throaty roars as he paraded about for us to admire him. Everyone else apart from a calf or two stayed put. We stayed put as our host told us how he had built up the herd and where it was today.
Colin said ‘You can’t have Bison bulls in fields next to each other’, the biulls won’t have it and tell you so by destroying all man made fences to reach each other and sort it out themselves. So we went off again in the trailer, past the Elk herd which separated the two herds, past the Red Deer, the rheas and on to the next herd.
The Elk herd were red deers on stilts. Incredible long legs, but beautiful and serene. We fed them pellets. Rheas are a south American bird about a third of the size of an ostrich.
Unbelievably we had already been out for an hour and a half and as we had ordered bison & elk burgers, cream teas and coffees before we left, we headed back to base for a re fueling pit stop in the café. I stocked up Bison and elk in the shop and made a note to revisit the Bison Centre sooner rather than later. And to include Bison Centre events in the WORM website diary.
They have an open day & fete ‘Bison Browse’ in June, Traditional Native American Pow wow mid July, which judging from the pictures in the gallery, it is well worth attending. I will be sprucing up my tipi and moccasins come spring. As well as an American Civil War re enactment and a wilderness gathering ‘the original bushcraft show’ in august. They cater for group visits, BBQs, private events, corporate days etc.’. The gallery can be privately hired and also the large camping area with tipi can be booked. There are also Farm & Woodland Gardens and a Native American & Wildlife Gallery. All events set against the background of wandering bison. It is one heck of a way to impress on a day out!
I am taking my tipi and Or, if members would like another visit next spring, let me know! |
