Family Farming

The Bastable family has been farming in Berkshire and North Hampshire for over 50 years, with tenant farming expanding into contract and share farming, owner occupation and general agricultural contracting. Latterly, environmental schemes have become increasingly important as the farming operation has expanded to include arable and grassland farms, water meadows in the Kennet Valley and downland grazing on the North Hampshire Downs.

Bastable Brothers currently has a breeding flock of about 1000 sheep. The ewes are predominantly mules (blue-faced Leicester x Scottish Blackface) renowned for their mothering abilities, and the rams are mostly Suffolks which produce strong, healthy lambs.

Lambing takes place in March/April each year with a steady supply of lambs ready for market or our butchers shop from late summer through to the following spring. The ewes and lambs graze on local grassland and downland throughout the year with stubble turnips grown for winter fodder. Hay is also produced each spring to supplement winter rations.

We also have a beef herd of around 150 suckler cows producing offspring that stay on the farm until ready for market or the shop. Like the sheep, the cows and calves spend most of the year out on local grass with winter housing allowing the feeding of hay, grass silage and maize silage - all produced on our farms. Cereals such as wheat, barley and oats are grown, milled and mixed by us to ensure the best possible home-grown feed for our stock during the winter months.

The lambing and calving periods take place in modern farm buildings to ensure the highest levels of welfare for the mothers and offspring, with stock turned out onto grass as soon as the weather allows in the spring.

Traditional family farming continues to thrive in Central Southern England with an increasing number of consumers wishing to enjoy our traditionally reared produce.