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 originates from a farm in South-East France on which Bertie was born and developed his interest in farming. Lessor Farm and the surrounding 40 acres were purchased in 1998 and with a further 12 subsequent purchases of land. The farm has since grown to 350 acres of permanent pasture, wood and marshland. Gentons manages its carbon footprint with the help of this, with the aim of being as close to neutral as possible. Having spent a year looking at many breeds, 2011 saw Bertie decide upon the English Longhorn as the breed of choice having been attracted by the breed’s robust characteristics and ease of calving.
You can find us at Lessor Farm in the lovely Oxfordian town of Milcombe, where we’ve been for a few decades now. It’s come a long way since we fell in love with a small cottage and pig barn with a special view. Here we believe in living with the land rather than on it. As we’ve built barns we’ve planted forests, as we’ve hosted events we’ve protected wildlife reserves and wetlands. It’s a balance that makes Lessor Farm a special place for our guests, flora, and fauna.
We have ventures here of all shapes and sizes though there are some communalities; Heart, quality, and sustainability - and wanting to share them with others.
Livestock
Our sheep, like our cows, are of top quality for two important reasons: health and happiness. Moved every week or other week they thrive of fresh disease-free pastures, and often allowed to roam through forests and shrub, reinforcing their diets and enjoyment of their habitat, and naturally revitalising the forests themselves.
Happy sheep give birth to more lambs, and for us the proof is in the pudding; we’re expecting 211 lambs this April from our 100 ewes. Lambing is an intense few weeks and we’re always enlisting eager volunteers to come stay with us - let us know if you’re interested in joining in the madness.
Our chickens too are free-range and well fed from a variety of natural foods. They produce, by all accounts, delicious mineral-rich eggs - and a great many - enquire for boxes for sale.
Meanwhile our bees keep our flora rich landscape thriving. From our bustling fruit and berry trees there’s always something sweet to share - especially our honey which in turn is enriched with a unique floral blend. Order some pots today and taste the natural difference.
Wildlife
We have thriving populations of Roe Deer, Fallow Deer, Muntjac, hedgehogs, foxes, buzzards, kites, owls, ducks, herons, woodpeckers, kingfishers, geese, swans, trout, pike and more. Nearly all these species had gone when we bought our farm - an empty wheat field or overgrazed sheep pasture does not sustain wildlife - habitats do. We’ve planted XXXX trees in lessor, establishing XXXX acres of wild land - engineered in line with government direction on maximising biodiversity and habitat quality.