Small Farm Training Group 
News
Woolcraft with Wensleydales
Longwools for Fleece & Meat Training Day
10th November 2007 10.00am – 4.00pm
at Beech Hill Farm, Cowbeech Road,Rushlake Green TN21 9QB
Do you have a small flock of Longwool Sheep and wish to make an economic return on the fleece and meat? Are you looking for multi-purpose sheep with economic potential? Come to this practical day with hands-on opportunities: share your experiences, discuss difficulties and learn about nutrition, breeding, quality fleece improvements and market opportunities.
Tutors: Julie Lukehurst. Breeder of Champion Devon & Cornwall Longwools, Tutor in animal husbandry; Neil Oakley. BWMB Depot Manager,Kent Wool Growers. Cost: £35 per person (numbers limited for individual needs).
The day will be co-hosted by Julia Desch ( Beech Hill Flock of Black Pedigree Wensleydales) & Sheila Leech (Oakhill Flock of Champion White Pedigree Wensleydales)
For more information contact: Julia Desch 01435 830203 julia@desch.go-plus.net Sheila Leech 01825 830397 mark.m.leech@btinternet.com Light refreshments will be provided. Bring suitable clothing for some outdoor sessions.
Open Farm Sunday 8th July
The SFTG will have a stand at Open Farm Sunday at Honeycrocks Farm, Ersham Road (B2104), near Hailsham, Sunday 8th July, 11am - 4pm
Activities at the event include:
Breeds of sheep
Sheep shearing display
Sheepdog demonstration
Sheep products and farm produce
Farm walk and nature trail
Pond dipping and picnic area
Barbecue and refreshments
National Farm Open Day coordinated by LEAF
Family
Knitting Day 14th July
Beech Hill Farm Rushlake Green
Saturday 14th July 2007 11am - 4pm
Come and learn how to knit or refresh your skills and feel the luxurious beauty of wensleydale yarn. Expert knitters will be on hand to help you. Groups will be running at intervals throughout the day.
ADMISSION FREE
Small Charge for materials (£5 for children under 12, £7.50. adults)
Please contact us beforehand to let us know numbers likely to attend.
Co-hosted by Julia Desch: Beech Hill Flock of Black Pedigree Wensleydales Sheila Leech: Oakhill Flock of Champion White Pedigree Wensleydales Contact: 01435 830203/01825 830397 or email:julia@desch.go-plus.net
SFTG wins 2006 Heathfield Show prize!
Despite the mud the last Saturday in May saw the culmination of tremendous efforts by many SFTG members, as we met on Heathfield Showground to put together what is now an award-winning display of advice and information for existing and would-be smallholders.
This year we won a Silver Cup for First Prize in the Large Agricultural Show Stand competition at Heathfield. A fitting tribute to teamwork and determination in the face of mud! The judges were especially impressed, not just by our informative displays – one of them wanted to stay and talk about poultry – but also by the welcome and enthusiasm we showed to them and to our visitors through the day. What’s a bit of mud between determined smallholders? Peter Castle came up trumps with some orange plastic walkway, so inside our marquee, our visitors were able to walk with ease in a relatively mud-free zone. Those visitors got to see clear and often upgraded information displays on cattle, pigs, bees, sheep, woodland and poultry, as well as new displays this year on growing fruit and regulations for smallholders. In the end, we had a good day and signed up new SFTG members.
But of course it doesn’t stop there. Our next shows are in Ardingly for the Smallholders Show on 1-2 July and same place for the SEAS Autumn Show 30 September and 1 October.
Members: we also need volunteers for these shows. Please don’t leave it up to the same crowd, contact Sue Greener on 01435 830900 or sue.greener@btconnect.com and volunteer for a couple of hours on Saturday or Sunday. Come and join us, it’s not so muddy at Ardingly!