Our farm situated in the beautiful hills of Powys

 

 

Llanafanfawr, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3PW United Kingdom

 

Home of THE VATCH HERD of pedigree medium-legged DEXTER cattle... ...

 

 

  

... ... and our flock of coloured sheep especially bred to provide interesting fleeces for spinners and felters... ... ...

NEWEST PICTURES AT FOOT OF PAGE  

  

Situated at 1000 feet (300m) in a secluded valley in Mid-Wales, but only 8 miles from the famous Royal Welsh Showground at Builth Wells, living here can be tough and the hardy Dexter cattle are ideal. They come originally from the West of Ireland and have always been known as the "smallholder's cow" since they are thrifty, easy to look after, and provide exceptional quantities of high quality beef and milk from a proportionally lower input than other breeds of cattle.

Dexters can be black, red or dun and come in a short or medium-legged type. Here at Cwmchwefru we concentrate on the medium-legged, producing quiet, well-handled pedigree heifers to supply an increasing demand. The Dexter, after nearly becoming extinct in the 1960s, is now no longer classed as a Rare Breed, having found its niche on commercial farms as well as amongst smallholders.

Those who have only seen Dexters in the show ring will be familiar with the short-legged type but there are several breeders who now concentrate on the medium-legged type: they are still full-pedigree animals, the only difference being that they do not carry the gene which causes the dwarfing of the skeleton, so that the proportion of leg to body is different. In our experience they are hardier, live longer, and are more practical, being easier to milk with the udder carried higher above the ground, and also better for suckling large commercial calves for the same reason. Calves are handled from birth and we usually have quiet stock of all ages for sale.

The sheep flock was started to produce wool for home use. No single breed of sheep seemed to have all the qualities we needed, so we decided to breed our own. Results are good and, with the mingling of Icelandic, Shetland, Cotswold, Jacob, Corriedale, Ryeland, Southdown and Suffolk breeds we get a hardy, prolific, friendly ewe with a heavy long-stapled fleece in various natural colours, and one which is also able to throw a good-sized meaty lamb. A few ewes and lambs are for sale each year.  

Boer Goats help us with weeding on the farm:

 
Chobi, Dani and Esme   New Kids on the Block


One-day courses on "Starting in Smallholding" are run regularly during summer and autumn, providing practical experience in handling farm animals and encouragement for beginners.


The farm is run in a traditional way with the least possible input of chemicals and a concern for the welfare of the animals. Any medicine used is homoeopathic whenever possible. This means that the wool produced from the coloured sheep is chemical-free - and the range of colours means that it does not even need dyeing. 

With the help of a local butcher, packs of home-produced meat can be supplied bagged and labelled ready for the freezer.  

We are pleased to be members of The Wholesome Food Association: for more information Click Here


VISITORS ARE WELCOME by prior arrangement. They can also see our CRAFT GALLERY where chunky rugs woven from our own fleeces are on display together with items made from hand-spun wool, and STONEWARE POTTERY also made on the farm (you may try your hand at throwing too!).

For a longer stay there is sometimes a four-berth caravan available (with gas/electric/TV and adjacent toilet/shower facilities) or you can bring your own tent and enjoy camping in the beautiful surroundings of rural Powys. 

We are also a host farm for WWOOF UK (World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) – for more information visit www.wwoof.org

All of these activities are run by LESLEY WICKHAM. For more information about any aspect of our activities please feel free to make contact:

Send an e-mail now lesley@lesleywickham.co.uk
Telephone or fax (UK 01597 860244, International +44 1597 860244), or write to: 

 

 

Lesley Wickham
Cwmchwefru Farm
Llanafanfawr
Builth Wells
Powys LD2 3PW
UK

Pottery by lesley Wickham

 

Occasionally we can also show original prints made by our daughter who mainly works as a book illustrator for private press limited editions. For more information on these prints and books, or to commission new work, send an e-mail to.... melwickham@hotmail.com. Here are two examples of recent commissions for "An Insect Alphabet"

 

Artwork by Melanie Wickham - Illustrator

 

Artwork by Melanie Wickham - Illustrator

 

The rest of the family are also busy when not helping with the animals etc.!
- * For information about A SPECIALIST CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT SERVICE Click here

- * SPECIALIST CONSULTANCY SERVICES are also available in various areas related to nuclear power engineering and chemistry. For further information Click here

 

"Some New Pictures of our Stock, 2003"

 

 

   

   

Some of the Ladies

  

Phyllida and her Twins

Vatch Clarissa              

  

   Vatch Eris

 

Icelandic/Shetland/Cotswold Ewe with lamb by Ryeland Ram

  

   Cwmchwefru Home Paddock

  

    Summertime

    Three Heifers

We also breed Welsh Cobs:

 
The Young Stallion "Maylord Supreme"   Conygar Amanda and Bryher Prydwen (known here as "Mandy and "Twinkle"!

We sell beautiful sheepskin rugs:

And peg-loom rugs:

 

Machine-knitted hat and stole in hand-spun and machine-spun wool (and more useful pots!):

 
Throws produced from our naturally coloured wool   Even Steer Hides are available!

 

Our Wool in a Different Form And finally, more stoneware pottery produced on the farm...

 

HOME

   

 


 

  

  

  

  

Powys Web can help businesses in Powys with the cost of commissioning a web site