Thanks to Suzanne for sharing this report with OnTheWight readers. Ed
Welcoming about 60 members of the public to Briddlesford Lodge Farm for Open Farm Sunday Judi Griffin explained the farm is a family run business, which has been in the hands of the Griffin family since 1923, when Charles Griffin had a herd of just 15 milking cows. Today, there are 150 pedigree Guernsey cows, all descended from the original animals.
Guernsey cows are some of the highest yielding in the country with an average of 20 litres a day per cow. Every other day a milk tanker collects some four to five thousand litres and this is sold to milk-based product makers, whilst some of the milk is sold in the farm shop and at other Island outlets. One company buying this milk is New Forest Ice Cream.
Lots to see and do
Visitors to the farm enjoyed tractor and trailer rides, a visit to the milking parlour, viewing the calves and milk tasting at Bluebells café.
Recently, the Griffin family has invested in solar panels which generate power for the café, farm shop and the milking parlour. These solar panels are based on the roof of farm buildings and do not take up valuable growing or pasture land.
Most of the food for the herd and the calves, which produce veal, is grown on the farm. With the wet weather of the past winter and spring there is plenty of grass to be made into silage as well as fresh grass, now that the weather is drier, for the herd to eat.
Conserving the environment
All the Griffin family ensure that the environment is looked after with hedges only being cut every other year, so that birds and other creatures can survive and breed in the hedgerows and the use of fertiliser is curtailed.
Maize is grown as cattle feed, which the cattle enjoy and to this end a new piece of farm machinery has been purchased which distributes the maize evenly to the waiting herd.
For those unable to visit the farm on Open Farm Sunday there is the chance to visit on Wellie Wednesdays which are held on a regular basis.
Image: © Suzanne Whitewood
