Well, here we are in January 2026! Happy New Year to you all. 2025 was a bit of a bumpy ride – let’s hope 2026 is a little kinder to us all. I hope you had an enjoyable time over the Christmas break. We managed to spend some valuable time with family and friends, all whilst doing the day-to-day jobs necessary when you have animals. And of course, we had plenty of good food – one of the perks of producing it! The turkey went down a treat and we’ve also had a lot of positive feedback from our customers which is very encouraging and makes what we do worthwhile.
As you’ll be aware, it takes a special effort to farm the way we do – working with nature to produce nutrient-dense, quality food while enhancing the farmed environment and giving our animals the best life possible. Each and every one of our customers is truly appreciated – your custom enables us to carry on producing good food, and you’re helping to keep another independent family farm in business.
The year has started off well as we have been able to turn our cattle back out in the fields for the day since New Year’s Eve. The ground was starting to firm up with the dry spell that we had over the Christmas period. Then we’ve had the sharp frost the last few days, which means the cattle can’t damage the soil. We’ve been unrolling hay on the field near the barn using our quad and bale unroller – this a great way of feeding cattle as they can all eat at once as opposed to having the hay in a feeder plus it spreads the dung and any residue breaks down to feed the soil. It’s known as bale grazing and it’s one of the methods we use to improve our soils(also seed from the hay helps to reseed bald patches). Being able to get the cattle outside like this is great for them and us – fresh air, sunshine on their backs plus exercise and less work and manure handling for us. It benefits nature too as birds always appear when the cows are in the fields attracted by the insects which feed on the dung. Sadly, the weather is changing from tomorrow with a storm coming through so the cows will have to be back in the barn for the time being. If we get another hard frost or dry spell, they will be back out.
Farm Shop & Farmers’ Market News In the farm shop this Saturday, we have fresh beef and turkey curries made by Ruchita Earlswood, plus a special offer – 15% off rolled and flat briskets and turkey pieces from the freezer. The offer is extended to pre-orders for collection at the farmers’ markets.
We will be back at Ripley & Wallington Farmers’ Markets this Saturday, 10th January, bringing you fresh beef & pork plus frozen chicken. Ellie and Morgan will be at Ripley cooking sausages and burgers again. The weather forecast is looking cold but dry on Saturday. Please come to support us – make it worth our while to stand out in the cold! If you want to place an order to collect at either market, please do so by midday Friday at the latest. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to fulfill an order after that – email orders@brightleighfarm.co.uk. Please note that there is no Lingfield Farmers’ Market in January. The next one is on 8th February.
After the success of Open Barn Saturday just before Christmas, we will be doing it again on 7th February, when Ceramic Fitch and Batts Hill will also be open. Come along and see the cattle and pigs in the barn and talk to the farmer(me!) about what we do, why we keep the cows & pigs in the barn in the winter, what we feed them and any other questions you may have.
Dates For Your Diary
- 10th January – Ripley & Wallington Farmers’ Markets
- 25th January – Earlswood Farmers’ Market
- 7th February – Open Barn Saturday
- 8th February – Lingfield Farmers’ Market
Happy New Year,
Penny