Our October 2022 evening talk was well-attended with over 40 MUWAGA members and guests ready to hear Henry Astor of Bruern Farms on “Land Cultivation and Wellbeing in the 21st Century”.
Henry’s informal style was very well received as he expertly outlined the existential problems facing farming practices today. He focussed particularly on “food security” and challenged us to consider the lack of biodiversity and increasing food insecurity in the UK today.
Henry also challenged us to think about ideas to support his aim to interest and involve the local community in food and how better to control quality, with the simple idea “How to Feed Milton under Wychwood”.
Henry reminded us of the post WW2 history of farming methods. These were mindful of the need for food independence and security after those disastrous years. But they amounted to a war on the landscape. And over time, we have been brought to the point where large agribusiness companies perpetuate a dependency on these methods. The result is increasingly expensive fertilisers, and ever more powerful insecticides which work against the health of the land.
Henry gave an overview of work at Bruern Farms – a third generation family run enterprise. The farm extends to just under 2000 acres and is farmed conventionally, though not organically. The focus, away from narrow and restrictive “organic” labels, is to introduce regenerative farming methods using no pesticides and encouraging wildlife.
This is achieved with corridors of hedgerows, wildflowers, and the planting of tens of thousands of trees. As a result, bird and insect life is now thriving. The presence of six nesting pairs of barn owls at Bruern demonstrates one of the great success stories in the building back of bird populations.
Bruern Farms grow as many as 70 or 80 different types of heritage grain, constantly experimenting to test resilience to a variety of pests and weather conditions.
In addition to supplying grain for an Oxford Whiskey distillery, Henry founded the Cotswold Grain Network, a community of 40+ wheat growers and bakers who work together. Bruern Farms mills its own flour locally at Stanway Mill, near Cheltenham and supplies bakeries directly.
Scaling-up volumes in this way keeps prices manageable and crucially keeps control of production and profits local and sustainable.
In addition to a veg box scheme, Bruern Farms have a small farm shop. This shop offers a range of home grown and local products including its own pasture-fed English longhorn beef, free range pork, eggs and wild venison. The latest venture is the soon-to-be-opened farm café, which is likely to be helpful in engaging local people in the work being pioneered by Henry’s team.
What Can We Do?
Henry ended his talk by inviting discussion on how MUWAGA and individuals might use our own knowledge and expertise to encourage more people to get involved in growing their own food. And in the wider scheme of things, how to engage people in the work of Bruern Farms and other local sustainable-farming enterprises, and to learn more about taking control of the quality of the food we eat.
“How to Feed Milton under Wychwood”? Now there’s a challenge! Anyone with an idea, or anyone who would like to know more, can reach Bruern Farms via this link – or can contact MUWAGA in the comments section below with any thoughts and feedback.