A passion for farming and a love of the land lies at the heart of Wicklesham and drives this family-owned and run estate.

As third generation farmers and landowners it is our over-riding priority not only to sustain the environment for its current community and many visitors to enjoy, but to ensure its preservation for many generations to come. Every penny earned from the estate is invested back into its fabric to provide for its long-term prosperity.

Wicklesham is a member of LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming), FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group) and GCWT (Game Conservancy and Wildlife Trust). We aim to produce wholesome food, a thriving environment for wildlife and a vibrant community for those who live and work at Wicklesham.

This means we use the best modern farming methods to produce wheat, oilseed rape and sometimes barley or field beans. This may be for quality cattle feed, bread, such as for Hovis or Warburton, for example, malt to produce beer, such as Carlsberg, or even for biofuel from our rapeseed.

We aim for the optimum return from the land using judicious amounts of fertiliser and sprays when needed to produce top quality crops. The long-term care of the soil is paramount, with rotations, cultivations and an on-going soil enrichment programme tailored to soil type, situation and season.

But the rich diversity of wildlife has always been Wicklesham’s greatest asset. From its areas of ancient woodland, miles of hedgerow, both old and new, to the recently established grass and wildflower margins, all manner of bird and insect life thrives.

We take pride in caring for and preserving this environment, and recent successes have included the return of the native grey partridge. A rare type of poppy has been found on the farm, while the ancient woodland is home to a rare orchid.

Where once the cattle sheds bustled with a successful bull-breeding enterprise, today they are home to modern businesses. The buildings have been sympathetically converted to a working environment of the highest quality and character. This, along with Wicklesham’s residents, ensure a lively, welcoming community – the soul of the English rural way of life.