The Farm
Situated between the market towns of Bungay and Haleston in and area known as the Saints, the 450 acre farm straddles a narrow valley dissected by a small spring fed stream, The Beck. On either side of the Beck are ancient buttercup meadows bounded by high thick hedges interspersed with 500 year old pollarded Hornbeam trees, remnants of the medieval deer park once frequented by bishops and kings.
The farm like much of the agricultural landscape of Britain was much changed during WWII to maximize production. In the post war period fields continued to be enlarged ponds, ditches and hedges disappeared. Wide scale use of chemicals and artificial fertilizers changed the landscape drastically more so than at any other time since the black death.
John Sanderson the current owner and farmer who's father, uncle and grandfather all farmed here before him has sought to redress the balance. Ponds have been restored, hedges and woodlands replanted and a network of footpaths have opened up this unique and historic landscape for all to enjoy.
The keeping of cattle has been part of the Sanderson way of life for generations and this alone has probably saved the ancient meadows from destruction. Today the farm has over a 100 acres of permenant pasture including an area on the western edge of the farm known as Greshaw Green. The Green was one of the largest in suffolk, originally 196 acres of common grazing land, before it was enclosed in 1854. Fieldwork by local archeologists revealed a large number of deserted medieval sites around the margins of the green.
The meadows are now grazed, by both, a herd of rare pedigree British white cattle and the gentle Simmental beef suckler herd.
Our award winning policy of replanting hedgerows has added to the cover required by many species of birds. Field margins are sown with rough grasses to encourage invertebrates and small mammals. Areas of woodland are planted each year with traditional native species.
For the last two years we have planted areas of pollen and nectar mix to attract and feed insects particularly butterflies and bumble bees. Other areas have been planted with plants to feed the birds through the winter. So if you see what looks like a strange crop in a field corner or edge it serves a special purpose.
