WOODHORN FARM VISIT

Seventeen Rotarians and their friends enjoyed a very interesting visit to Woodhorn Farm in Oving on the afternoon of Wednesday 21 October 2026. Luckily the morning’s rain had cleared and the sun was shining but the wind was still chilly. 

We met at Oving Jubilee Hall where we boarded a tractor and trailer. The farm is a 1500 acre dairy and arable farm and has been organic since 1998. Organic farming is a method that protects and encourages wildlife while helping to maintain the health of the soil. It was explained to us how the farm uses no artificial fertilisers or sprays and is 96% self-sufficient. Paul, the farm manager, and Sam, the tractor driver, took us around the farm and explained that some of the crops and the grass are fed to the cows and then the manure produced by the cows is used to fertilise the grass and crops.  

The farm maintains a herd of 270 dairy cows plus replacements and calves. The cows produce 8000 litres of milk per cow per year. The visit to the calf shed, where we got dwon off the trailer and were able to get close to the calves who ranged from a few hours to six weeks old, was a popular part of the visit. Once again Paul and Sam answered numerous questions.

At the present time there are three “Cow Sheds” offering pasteurised and raw milk along with milkshakes and coffee for sale directly to the public. The aim is to sell 100 000 litres of milk each year. The "Cow Sheds" are situated at Jubilee Hall in Oving, Berries on Tap in Sidlesham and the latest one that has just opened in The Pavilion at Graylingwell Park in Chichester.