Sustainable Farming
About the Farm
Gentons was established by Bertrand (Bertie) Facon on the grounds of Lessor Farm in Milcombe, near Banbury. The Gentons name is derived from the farm in South-East France where Bertie was born and where he developed his passion for farming. He bought Lessor Farm and the surrounding 40 acres in 1998, and made 12 subsequent purchases of land. The farm now comprises 500N acres of permanent pasture, wood and marshland, which helps Bertie and his team manage the carbon footprint of Gentons with the aim of being as close as possible to carbon neutral. After spending a year examining breeds, in 2011 Bertie fell in love with the English Longhorn, attracted by its robust characteristics and ease of calving and made it his breed of choice.
You can find us at Lessor Farm in the Oxfordshire town of Milcombe, where we have now lived for three decades. The farm has come a long way since then. Originally it was just a small cottage and pig barn with spectacular views. Our philosophy is that we believe in living with the land rather than just on it. We have built barns, planted forests, and protected wildlife reserves and wetlands. And that is what makes Lessor Farm so special for us and our guests.
We host events ranging from shoots, outdoor feasts and social gatherings - Welcoming guests all ages and backgrounds: Always with that signature warmth commitment to sustainability that is the hallmark of Lessor Farm.
Tradition at Lessor Farm
The focus of the farm is the cattle. However, the three Facons boys, Tom, James and Oli, started their herd of North Country mules (and a few goats) from about the age of 10, with lambing being one of the most important eventS in the calendar. Bertie’s sons were drawing on their father’s childhood tradition when he used to help his godfather in the mountains of Vercors in the South-East of France.
Today, a flock of 200 ewes graze on the two farms after the cows have moved on. Moreover they help maintain the habitat diversity of the conservation area. Lambing takes place either indoors or outdoors around Easter, depending on the weather and amount of grass. This is an annual family ritual which brings the brothers together.
Beekeeping, walnut trees and the rearing of free range chickens also from part of the Gentons tradition, to help recreate the memories of the farm where Bertie grew up.
Conservation ‘The Wild Area’
In the years that followed the purchase of Lessor Farm, Bertie and his team made a monument effort to develop the farm and its infrastructure. At the same time some 100 acres of the farm were rewarded, long before this became popular across the country. Our land is a tale of two cities, one of pure sand sitting above one of heavy clay. At the junction of the two and along the entire ridge, water which has accumulated in the sand comes out in springs.
Within those 100 acres, many springs emerge. We blocked the existing drains and recreated the same marsh land, that can be seen on 19th century maps. We have planted around 30,000 native trees, dug small ponds, hung barn owl boxes, and banned dogs from roaming freely.
After 30 years, Gentons can now boast of having a thriving and diverse population of insects, birds and mammals that did not exist before. At some point during the summer, after they have been sheared, the ewes graze in “The Wild Area”, in order to maintaining the balance between forest, bushes and small meadows.