Visitors to NSA North Sheep 2011 to be staged on Wednesday 8 June will have the opportunity to tour the host farm, West Nubbock, Hexham, Northumberland a modern hill and upland unit farmed by Lewis and Helen Forster which combines commercial farming with balanced with environmental management.
Throughout the day trailer tours will be made around the 1,200 acre tenanted unit carrying a 1,000 ewe flock plus hoggs, together with a 140 cow suckler herd. The entire unit is in the SDA, DA and SSSI while the majority of the land is also in the Northern Pennines AONB.
“We have adopted a twin track approach to farming,” Mr Forster explains. “We are focused on maximising the breeding value of our sheep enterprise – a stratified system headed by a core flock of North of England Blackface, while the vast majority of the farm is in HLS and the remainder the HLS entry scheme, so we aim to produce the maximum number of kilos of lamb from the permitted ewe stocking rate, and our lamb crop has to be of consistent quality from top to bottom.
“While first and foremost this is a livestock farm, at the same time we really do enjoy the stewardship element. In the last 10 years we have rebuilt 1,500 metres of stone wall, planted 8,000 trees, re-laid 700 metres of hedge, excavated ponds, and manage the vegetation to encourage the farm’s healthy population of Black Grouse, Curlew, Lapwing and many other ground nesting birds. We have a good working relationship with our landlord and land agent who are very enthusiastic about our farming practices. It works to everyone’s mutual benefit.”
NSA North Sheep 2011 organiser, Julie Sedgewick comments: “West Nubbock is an inspiration to visit; the Forsters are achieving a balance between food production, rearing breeding stock for the lowlands and managing the landscape. Furthermore, they are optimistic for the future, simply because of the expanding world population and accompanying increase in demand for food.”
For further information on NSA North Sheep 2011 please contact event organiser, Julie Sedgewick on 01325 314650.
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Further information from NSA’s Julie Sedgewick on 01325 314650
Issued by Liz Snaith Consultants on 01743 344986 / 07974 678833
