THE FARM
A 17th century farmstead overlooking the Brecon Beacons
Now a smallholding of 30 acres, this was once a substantial late-medieval holding of some 150+ acres dating back to the early 1600s. The farmstead comprises a Welsh longhouse with house and cattle byre interconnected under one roof as well as a separate bakehouse/dower house, threshing barn and shelter sheds. Lay brothers from Dore Abbey in Herefordshire farmed the surrounding fields in the 13th century establishing a mill in the lower field and grazing their Ryeland sheep on the hillside.
The farm supports a small flock of pedigree Ryeland sheep, poultry, ducks and geese as well as a lively springer spaniel and a multicoloured array of cats!
We are managing the farm for nature and habitat with traditional hedge-laying, coppicing and new woodland planting as well as scrubland formation and wetland creation. Our next step is to re-establish wildflower meadows and create a wildlife pond. We monitor our wildlife with bird boxes across the farm, bat boxes, tawny owl and barn owl boxes. We are currently surveying our woodland for hazel dormice with dormouse boxes.
We can offer guided tours of the farm and our re-wilding projects
Bannau Brycheiniog is an International Dark-Sky reserve, only the 5th in the world with this status! On a clear night just from outside the hut, you can see the Milky Way, major constellations, bright nebulas and even meteor showers.
Wildlife on the farm
Farm visitors include:
Starlings, Swallows, House Martins, Coal tits, Willow tits, Marsh tits, Great tits, Blue tits, Long-tailed tits, Siskins, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Dipper, Woodcock, Snipe, Buzzard, Red Kite, Sparrow Hawk, Lapwing, Curlew, Blackbird, Robin, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch, Red Start, Red poll, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Dunnock, Nuthatch, Magpie, Jay, Wren, Raven, Rook, Wood Pigeon, Canada Geese, Mallard, Tawny Owl, Long-eared Owl, Crow, Jackdaw, Pheasant, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Pied Flycatcher, Heron, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Stock Dove, Tree Creeper, Song Thrush, Willow Warbler, Collared Dove, Barn owl, Yellow Hammer...
Toad, Frog, Palmate Newt, Smooth Newt, Pipistrelle, Natterer's, Greater & Lesser Horseshoe bat, Common Lizard, Hedgehog, Brown Hares, Fox, Badger, Weasel, Polecat, Mole, White clawed crayfish...
An array of insects, butterflies and moths including poplar hawk moth, buff tip moth, white ermine moth, peacock butterfly, small tortoiseshell, small copper, small white, large white, comma, orange tip, dark green fritillary, meadow brown, painted lady...
Our woodland
Our woodland includes:
Oak, Ash, Hawthorn, Hazel, Blackthorn, Crab apple, Downy birch, Silver birch, Wild Cherry, Damson, Yew, Elder, Alder, Goat Willow, Larch, Scots Pine, Rowan, Dog Rose, Guelder Rose, Sycamore, Field Maple, Wych Elm, Norway Maple, Beech, Dog Wood...
In 2022 we planted two more woodland areas with over 800 trees including sessile oak, downy birch, wild cherry, field maple, dog wood, dog rose, hawthorn, hazel, beech, sweet chestnut, rowan, alder, bird cherry, service trees, and willows.
Wildflowers
Wildflowers on the farm include:
Broad leaved helliborine orchids, early purple orchids, water figwort, wild daffodil, bluebells, honeysuckle, foxgloves, bird's foot trefoil, pignut, sanicle, marsh valerian, meadowsweet, herb bennet, herb robert, red campion, wild strawberry, shining cranes bill, jack by the hedge, bugle, greater stitchwort, speedwell, vetch, yellow archangel, barren strawberry, opposite leaved golden saxifrage, wood anemone, ladys smock, wood sorrel, dog violet, dogs mercury, lords and ladies, lesser celandine, cowslip, cow parsley, hogweed, primrose, yellow pimpernel, tormentil, broad leaved willowherb, hedge woundwort, common mallow...
Take your time to explore the farm - have a picnic by the babbling brook, wander through the restored orchard, walk along the old farm lane for views over the Black Mountains
"What a spot! So unspoilt - a great location to view the local area."
"We enjoyed listening to the tawny owls, watching red kites and buzzards soar overhead and flitting bats at dusk."
"A wonderful base to enjoy the Hay Festival just 25-30 minutes away - so much to see and do!"