Animals-and-Pets
The Country Smallholder
Does a smallholding need a business plan?
Hugh & Fiona Osborne firmly believe that a smallholding needs a business plan, even if it isn't a business. They have seen too many smallholdings fail for lack of a financial plan.
7 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
Small Abbatoirs discussed at Westminster
The Sustainable Food Trust hopes this results in clear action
1 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
VE Day plaque to honour Women's Land Army and Timber Corps
At the end of the Second World War, the Women's Land Army (WLA) and Timber Corps were not granted military status or medals, as they were classified as civilian organisations. Despite their vital contributions, their service went unrecognised for decades
5 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
How to gain trust and consent from your animals
Established in 2009 by Victoria and Roger Barrett, SimplyAlpaca is a small family business determined to breed and raise alpacas and llamas using only kind and respectful methods.
2 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
Bluetongue virus restricted zone extended to all of England on 1 July 2025
Bluetongue virus (BTV-3) is primarily transmitted by midge bites and affects cattle, goats, sheep, goats, deer and camelids such as llamas and alpacas
2 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
"Devil will be in the detail" as farmers' livelihoods could be under threat
RSPCA wants animal welfare guarantee as UK strikes new global trade deals
2 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
The Ultimate Guide to Electric Fence Testers
Meriel Younger at www.electricfencing.co.uk says if you keep livestock and poultry on your land, an electric fence might already be part of your setup.
2 min |
July 2025
The Country Smallholder
What links a hen charity and dinosaurs?
Meet the new BHWT patron, Professor Ben Garrod to get the answer
5 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
What a changing climate can mean to all our chickens
Paul Donovan investigates the effects of weather patterns and events from commercial to smallholding and garden poultry
8 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
Escape to the woods - How to own your dream woodland in the UK
Our regular column about the opportunities for smallholders
3 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
Mourning amongst goats
Matt Huggins says close bonding in goats does mean that companions are missed
2 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
Beat the heat
Cara Wheeldon meets an experienced bantam owner who shares her advice on how to keep your bantams happy, hydrated and healthy this summer
5 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
Develop a smallholding health plan
Catriona Benson BVM&S, MRCVS highlights what you can do to protect from disease
5 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
How to control swarms
Claire Waring looks at the principles and practice of swarm control
5 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
Friend of nature or foe of growing food - opinion is divided
Last year was a bad year for slugs, but should we like them or loathe them? Micahel Wale investigates
5 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
The Off-grid outbuilding
Hugh & Fiona Osborne are working to make their Lincolnshire smallholding as self-reliant as possible and have taken the plunge to make their outbuildings and firewood processing tools solar powered.
6 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
Poultry Keeping in the 21st Century
Grant Brereton ponders on the future of pure breeds and poultry shows...
9 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
From newly hatched to four months, what your chicks need
Sarah Kearney BSc (Hons), PGCert, Head of Equine and Smallholder Nutrition at Allen & Page looks at those vital early weeks of a chicken's life
3 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
The place of heavy horses in today's farming
Heavy horses have once again returned to the fields at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) in sessions to show students the sustainability benefits of using horses rather than agricultural machinery.
3 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
Turning the pages of anew book on camelid care
Liz Wright finds out what the book offers and catches up with the vet who wrote it
3 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
How to have a mixed breed flock when breeding chickens
If you would like to breed chickens but would like to keep other breeds for eggs AND keep them all in the same place, there is a way. Fiona and Hugh Osborne explain how.
6 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
Controlling external parasites of poultry
Victoria Roberts BVSc MRCVS says what to look for and how to control them So where do they come from? Wild birds mainly which is why its so important to keep feeders and drinkers away from wild birds.
2 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
40 Years and Counting!
Established in 1985, the Oxford Sandy and Black Pig Society is now celebrating 40 years of conserving the breed. Linda Aldous explains why this pig is so special
5 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
Which rare breeds have made gains and which need your help?
Rare Breeds Survival Trust Chief Executive Christopher Price looks closely at the latest RBST Watchlist
4 min |
June 2025
The Country Smallholder
Training a new generation of tractor drivers.
Agricultural journalist, smallholder and editor of Ford & Fordson Tractors Magazine, Jane Brooks, joins us for her regular look at the world of machinery.
4 min |
May 2025
The Country Smallholder
Wild about Gardens campaign asks us all to become hoverfly heroes
Hoverflies need our help, say Royal Horticultural Society and The Wildlife Trusts
2 min |
May 2025
The Country Smallholder
Are you ready to ditch the dealership and embrace the DIY revolution?
Siromer say, “Forget flatpack furniture; it’s time to talk flatpack tractors!” They outline the pros and cons for you to decide
2 min |
May 2025
The Country Smallholder
It's important for a beekeeper to really understand why bees swarm
Claire Waring describes the swarming process and the reasons for beekeepers to be able to control it
5 min |
May 2025
The Country Smallholder
The Game Changer for Smallholders: The Multi-Function Compact Loader
Steve Hadfield of Compact Loaders UK examines what they can do for you!
3 min |
May 2025
The Country Smallholder
Nesting underneath our noses!
Helen Moffat of the RSPB says keep an eye out in your garden and on your smallholding on every level for brooding birds and chicks
2 min |