The Threshing Barn wishes to create an environmentally sensitive, sustainable farm that encourages the use of traditional crafts using natural materials. By retailing our crafts we wish to encourage the attitude that there should be a fair reward for good work. We enjoy a good and satisfying quality of life and hope we inspire others to do so also.

Skills

We encourage the teaching and preservation of traditional crafts by ourselves and local crafts people. By running workshops we are able to offer training to all ages. A beautiful tranquil and inspirational venue has been created for our clients to reconnect with there talents and the environment. I go out into the community teaching my craft skills to Young Farmers clubs, Schools, Colleges, WIs, Craft Guilds, etc. encouragement to these groups is given to visit our workshops. I am involved in three educational training groups on a voluntary basis.

Buildings

Our farm is grade 2 listed so any building work has used traditional materials and construction wherever possible to keep the original appearance of the buildings. We have preserved features such as the milk churn cooler and outside double seater toilet.

Energy conservation

Energy saving bulbs are used in the barns. Lights are switched off when no clients are in. Heat and Hot water is supplied by a new combination boiler, which produces hot water only when required.

Transport

Lead free petrol or diesel is used in our vehicles which are kept regularly serviced. A push bike is used to check the sheep down the lane.

Purchasing

Our packing bags are all made from recycled paper. We sell hand made recycled paper for crafts and gift wrapping. Craftwork not produced by us is made by local craftspeople. All printing is produced by local companies, building work has been carried out by ourselves and small local craftsmen, carpenters, stonemasons, etc. Catering at larger events is carried out by a local café.

Recycling

We recycle a large proportion of our waste paper for making papier machie and paper making. Newspapers are used as drying pads for paper making or used as covers for tables for painting. All brown padded envelopes, packing boxes, bubble wrap are reused for mail order supplies.
All vegetable waste is eaten by our pigs. Plants, weeds and flower petals are used in natural paper making and dyeing of natural fibres.

Flora and Fauna

Our farm is situated in the south west peak environmental area, the preservation of this area is of great importance to us and awareness is brought to our clients by encouraging them to visit local reserves.
Fields have been returned to traditional hay meadows, which are not fertilised or sprayed with chemicals. Wildlife areas have been fenced off for ground nesting birds and to preserve the spring wild flowers.
New hedges have been planted and a program to rebuild the stone walls has been started, the stone footbridge over the ford has been rebuilt. Effort has been made to attract wildlife by planting trees, dredging the pond and installing nest boxes for small and large birds which includes a barn owl box installed by Staffordshire wildlife trust.

Wildlife

We currently have a pair of nesting barn owls in a box provided by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, five metres from our workshops in the old threshing barn: a great success story for our environmental policy.

Animal Welfare

Our principle farming activity is lamb production for the meat and the pedigree ram market, our wool along with other local rare breed wools are processed and used for educational purposes, as they have little commercial value to the wool board.
The lamb is slaughted and packed locally meaning the animals do not travel any long distances and therefore minimal stress to the animal is caused and low fuel consumption.