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It was supposed to be a straightforward Monday morning. Then Annie had other ideas. Our resident sow delivered a litter of seven piglets — spotty, pink, and absolutely tiny — but promptly decided that motherhood wasn't quite for her. Whether she filed it under "not my problem" or simply didn't get the memo on how this was supposed to work, Annie rejected her piglets almost immediately, leaving the little ones without the colostrum and warmth they desperately needed. Then the

It's hot. The pigs know it. And honestly? They're handling it better than any of us. A lighthearted look at why mud baths and wallows are absolutely essential for our beloved Oxford Sandy & Black herd on a scorching summer's day.

There are moments in farm life that remind you, with bracing clarity, that you are not nearly as capable as you imagined. Our first attempt at sheep shearing was one of those moments. Actually, it was about twenty of those moments — one for each minute it took us to do what the world's best can apparently manage in 37.9 seconds. It began with a phone call across the valley to Dave, our neighbour and the only real farmer within shouting distance. Could we borrow his shears? Da

Big news from Beech Hill Farm — Peonie, our beloved purebred Dexter cow, has welcomed her newest calf into the world! Born naturally right here on the farm, this little one has already stolen every heart in sight.

There’s something undeniably magical about walking out to the paddock in the early morning and discovering that overnight, nature has quietly got on with business. This week, our newest Oxford Sandy and Black sow, Charlotte, decided the time was right — and introduced us to five beautiful piglets. Tiny snouts, wobbly legs, oversized ears, and the sort of enthusiasm for life that only newborn piglets seem able to produce. Charlotte has taken to motherhood with admirable seriou

There’s something quietly hopeful about a handful of wildflower seeds. Last week at Beech Hill Farm, we stood at the edge of one of our fields—boots a bit scyuffed on the dry clay, pockets full of promise—and began sowing. Not in neat rows or rigid lines, but with that wonderfully carefree scatter that wildflowers seem to prefer. A toss here, a sweep there, and suddenly the field felt less like farmland and more like a future meadow waiting to happen. Wildflowers have a way o

Life at Beech Hill Farm is usually a picture of calm: rare breed cattle grazing contentedly, lush grass underfoot, and the gentle rhythm of proper grass-fed, free-to-roam farming. “Free to roam,” of course, being the key phrase in this particular tale. Because as it turns out, our cattle took that concept, stretched it, and then enthusiastically trotted right past it. It began innocently enough. A few curious noses testing boundaries. A bit of leaning here, a bit of nudging t

There’s nothing quite like the sound of tiny snuffles in the straw to brighten even the soggiest of mornings — and goodness knows we’ve had a few of those lately. After what can only be described as biblical rain (we briefly considered building an ark for ourselves), we’re delighted to announce the safe arrival of ten strong and healthy piglets to first-time mum, Mildred. Mildred, one of our newer Oxford Sandy and Black sows, chose a dramatic week to embark on motherhood. W

When the Weather Turns: Life Outdoors for Our Oxford Sandy and Black Pigs This time of year always feels like a turning point at Beech Hill Farm. The rain settles in, the temperature drops, and the ground begins to change under our feet. For those of us working outside every day, it’s a challenging season — and for our rare breed Oxford Sandy and Black pigs, it’s when thoughtful, careful farming matters most. Oxford Sandy and Black pigs making the most of drier days before wi