Guided Countryside Walks
Take a tour lasting about one and a half hours through Haddon Estate parkland, currently being restored and extended, and converted to organic status, in an area not accessible to the general public.
There is no charge, but advanced booking essential as numbers limited. Sensible footwear advised. Sorry, no dogs allowed.
Thursday 9th September at 10:30 am
Monday 11th October at 2:00 pm
Telephone 01629 810910 or e-mail janet@haddonhall.co.uk
Home Farm Apiary
For as long as anyone still living can remember, there have been honey bees in the crevices of the ancient walls of Haddon Hall. Every summer, when conditions get a little crowded in the nest, some of the bees swarm and look for a new home. This year, with the help of Tufa Cottage Apiary, Jayne the gardener has rehomed the bees in a hive in the newly planted Home Farm orchard. The bees will help pollinate the fruit tree blossom in the spring and produce some excellent honey from this and nearby lime tree blossom. Follow the progress of the Haddon bees on the News Page.
In March 2009 the Estate took back in hand 336 acres of the Home Farm around Haddon Hall. We are converting the entire farm to organic status; restoring and extending the medieval park around Haddon Hall; managing wild flower rich water meadows along the banks of the Wye and Lathkill Rivers; buying a herd of rare breed Longhorn Cattle and a flock of rare breed local Derbyshire sheep; restoring the orchard at Haddon Hall and planting a new one; and growing our own organic arable crops for feed.
We have been granted Natural England’s High Level Scheme (HLS) status, the highest conservation farming status; and are converting to Soil Association organic status.
The Home Farm has been awarded the Peak District Environmental Quality Mark (EQM) for its own lamb and beef. This reflects our efforts to conserve the special and characteristic features of the National Park whilst rearing cattle and sheep in an environmentally friendly way.
The Estate is being advised by the National Trust land agent for the region; the partner farmer for the National Trust at Hardwick; as well as the Senior Countryside & Economy Adviser from the Peak District National Park.
