Animals-pets
The Country Smallholder
Making a living from not a lot of land - or new ideas for conventional farmers
Michael Wale discovers Oxford's Real Farming Conference in the field at Organic Lea
5 min |
December 2025
The Country Smallholder
Give your family and friends the perfect present from our gift guide
Christmas is coming up quite rapidly now but there is still time to find that perfect gift for your family and friends who live close to the land or those who appreciate appreciate what you do and want to be part of it. Many of these gifts are designed and made at the farm, or in the country but will fit into town and city life. They range from beautifully practical to just simply, beautiful and lovely to own.
7 min |
December 2025
The Country Smallholder
A self-sufficient meal
Putting a self-sufficient meal on the table has been a rite of passage for Hugh & Fiona Osborne. It's one of those things that, as smallholders, seemed deceptively simple but has been a journey of a quarter of a century (and it's not over yet)!
6 min |
December 2025
The Country Smallholder
Lambing List now open for delivery
Help is at hand if you need it or you can offer assistance
2 min |
December 2025
The Country Smallholder
Livestock insurance cover revamped ahead of Pedigree Sales season
Including cover for individual pedigree animals
1 min |
December 2025
The Country Smallholder
Title Feeding pet goats and sheep this autumn
Sarah Day, nutritionist at Small Holder Feed, explains practical steps to keep pet ruminants, including those on visitor farms, healthy, calm and easy to manage this season by ensuring a balanced diet
7 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Bite-size Carrots for Christmas?
Lee Senior suggests growing snack carrots at this time of year is worth a try
3 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Keep your flock cosy and the chill at bay in winter months with these top tips
Welcome winter with the help of a BHWT rehomer's warm advice
2 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Yorkshireman is top of the World
James Witty, ploughing for England, is the 2025 World Conventional Ploughing Champion.
2 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Growing Space for people and for gardens
Susie Kearley finds out about how a charity maximises growing space
4 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Successful birthing for cows starts well before the pregnancy
What can I do to ensure that I reduce the risk of difficult births and worse still, caesarean sections amongst my cows? We had our first caesarean this year and I certainly don't want to repeat it.
2 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Helping birds in a changing climate
After a long hot summer, like the one we had this year, with repeated heatwaves – how will our birds cope this winter?
2 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
You can make your new hedge edible as well as wildlife friendly
Using British native plants to secure and shelter livestock as well as provide foraging for you and wildlife
2 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Final Preparations for winter in your apiary
Claire Waring's step by step guide to keeping your bees safe in the cold weather
6 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
When it pays to get in the professionals
Agricultural journalist, smallholder and editor of Ford & Fordson Tractors Magazine Jane Brooks, joins us for her regular look at the world.
4 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
What makes a goat, The GOAT?
Matt Huggins says never was an animal so aptly named
2 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Inside the world of a busy alpaca stud
Alexandra Verhoef of Alpaca Evolution looks at how the alpaca farm prepares for the winter including a look at Christmas gifts
2 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Where farming reaches out to share the experience
Making agricultural accessible to all people is an important way to build understanding and future farmers
3 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
The background to a special smallholding venture
Stephen and Dean Clayton-Madge on how a very special place was created – meet Tregoose Old Mill
5 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Protecting your flock from bird flu this winter
I'm a small poultry flock owner and recently I have upgraded the flock to breed some pure breeds and I'm getting some good prices. I am starting to think I am breeding good stock and I am terrified of losing my breeding birds to avian flu. I think I need to really get to grips with biosecurity, so I'm looking for some serious advice on how to try to keep avian flu away from my birds.
2 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Whins Farm - new tenancy opportunity in Cumbria
Sue English, Fund Director, said \"We feel very privileged that we can keep Whins Farm actively farming and provide a first step for a young farming family.\"
2 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Why a village in Norfolk is attractive and accessible with the nearby Norfolk Broads
Our regular column seeking out the best places for smallholder living
3 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Bi-annual Championship Show a Great Success
Janice Houghton-Wallace reports from Australia where she continues to be requested to judge poultry. Janice was a long standing contributor to smallholding magazines in the UK before she moved to Australia.
2 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
A New Plot Before I Lose the Plot
Andrew Oldham looks to recycling and integrated growing to make the most of what you have
5 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Nuffield Farming Conference Comes to Scotland
The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust is thrilled to announce that its 2025 Annual Conference will take place at the P&J Live in Aberdeen, Scotland, from 18-20 November
1 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
A celebration of food from Scotland
Josephine Laing was exhibiting but also found time to see what was on offer
3 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Are you ready for hedging season?
Gone are the days of struggling with a step ladder and a handheld hedge cutter. Get the work done in a fraction of the time from the comfort of your Siromer Tractor.
2 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Picking the perfect present for countryside people
It's the time of year to start finding the right gift for your smallholding friends. We've had festive fun finding some ideas for you. Maybe at least one of these should be a present to yourself!
5 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
What Do You Need to Start Keeping Chickens
If you're thinking of getting chickens for the first time in the new year, it's easy to be bamboozled by the bewildering array of information and equipment on offer. Hugh and Fiona Osborne explain the basics.
7 min |
November 2025
The Country Smallholder
Discovering fermented sauces
In some parts of the world, lactic acid fermentation (the preserving technique used in sauerkraut) is widely practiced and produces many fantastic foods. For some reason it has never been widespread in the UK but Hugh & Fiona Osborne are big fans of the technique and use it to preserve their annual chilli glut as delicious sauces.
5 min |