June 2020 at Stourton

Landscaping Products & Logs – £ and Contact FREE Delivery still available

We have been very busy in the last few weeks with our landscaping product deliveries, so much so that we sold out of woodchip.  Luckily we have new stock coming in imminently and we can deliver our back orders and fulfil any new orders that come in.

We have had some great feedback regarding our Garden Bark Chippings and would like to thank the customer for taking the time to leave the feedback.  We are far too modest to repeat it here but if you are interested you just might be able to read all about it in our Facebook reviews.

We are also delighted to announce that our Kiln Dried Logs are back in stock & available to order online. Don’t forget, we are offering contact and £ FREE delivery within 20 miles of our office postcode on all orders over £25.

Get BBQ Ready with our Venison Packs

As well as landscaping products, we have also been very busy delivering our venison products across the county.  Just in time for the warm weather we have stocked up on burgers, sausages and steaks for you to enjoy.

We have some great value packs for you to choose from, which are perfect for the BBQ.

The Venison BBQ Pack is ideal for feeding a hungry family and costs £24 (this sometimes varies depending on steak types and weights) and currently includes;

• 4 burgers,
• 6 meaty sausages,
• 2 haunch steaks and
• 2 sirloin steaks

The Venison Steak Selection, for only £29, includes;

• 2 x Sirloin,
• 2 x Rump,
• 2 x Haunch; and
• Braising Steak

Like our logs and landscaping products, delivery is £ and contact FREE on all orders over £25 and within a 20 mile radius of our postcode.

Please note that, even though it falls under the £25 threshold, delivery is also free on the Venison BBQ Pack (as long as the delivery address is within 20 miles).

If you aren’t sure whether you qualify for free delivery or have any questions about any of our products please contact us.

On the Farm

As we write this blog, after a couple of cooler, showery weeks the sun is now beating down with temperatures in the late 20s we really do swing from one extreme to another!

We have been busy with various bits and pieces: Ken finished fabricating the new farm gate which is now with our neighbour GCS Farms for shot blasting and painting. We have been loading our harvest 2019 wheat out of storage to make way for the produce of harvest 2020. We expect to make a start in our customers winter barley crop some time in the 3^rd week of July (Oli had better get the combine out and polished up pretty sharpish)!

The drier weather is actually very helpful for the major project we have going on at the moment. Timmins Engineering are doing a great job of stripping the roof from one of our grain stores to replace it. The shed in question was first built in the mid-1950s by Antony’s father and grandfather to house cattle. Part of it was converted into a grain store in the late 90’s. The roof which is being replaced certainly doesn’t owe us a lot after over 60 years of reliable service!

Ken is taking some well-deserved time off to recharge his batteries before the big push into harvest and cultivations. On his return we will be going through all of our implements to make sure they are in good condition and serviceable for the busy season ahead. The first job is to go through all of our grain trailers to ensure they are in good roadworthy condition.

Further to getting our machinery ready we will be having round the table discussions with all of our colleagues here about health and safety in the workplace during such a busy and tiring time of year. It is an area which our industry really needs to work hard on improving, the first step of which is to encourage engagement all round.

On The Estate

In between all the time spent mowing and tidying, Antony and the team have been busy clearing the stable yard area. This area had become a bit of a ‘storage’ area for all sorts of bits and bobs, (it is tricky for farmers to throw anything away)!  We have removed about 200 tonnes of rubble from the area which has been reused around the estate, filling holes and repairing tracks.  We have also been levelling the area out and trimming trees in the vicinity.  We can now ‘see the wood for the trees’ and it’s a super space for which we have plans, however it will take a while for these to come to fruition…  We aren’t ready to spill the beans quite yet but watch this space!

Whilst we had access to the digger we have also moved another storage container into place behind the safari tent to make it easier for outside suppliers to service events within the venue.

Socially Distanced Private Deer Feeding Tours – Available to Book Now

All our events are currently still on hold but if you’d like to take the opportunity to safely visit the estate then we have a great opportunity for you.

We are offering socially distanced deer feeding tours for up to four people.  You will accompany Antony on his morning deer feeding rounds and will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the herd, understand what it takes to manage such a herd and even spot some of our lovely newborn calves.  You will travel around the estate in the comfort of an open air seated mini-trailer.  Our tours last approximately 1.5 hours and cost £60 for up to 4 people. The tours are available to book on Saturday and Sunday mornings and commence at 8am.

To get a flavour of what the tour has to offer, Helen has written about her own deer feeding experience here….. although you won’t be expected to be gate openers – unless you’d like to be!

To order your tickets please click here

If you want to check availability of a particular date prior to booking please email contact@stourtonestates.co.uk

Weddings At Stourton – Come and take a tour

We are delighted to announce the Julie will be rejoining the team following her furlough period at the beginning of July.  Julie is our wedding and event co-ordinator so, once she’s back up and running, we will be able to show any interested couples what the estate has to offer for their wedding day.  We can assure you that we will be adhering to strict social distancing rules during the tour.

If you would like to find out more about our weddings or to book a tour then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Deer Diary

This is such a magical time on the estate as our grass fields begin to fill up with the pitter patter of tiny hooves.  Many of our calves have now been born, the hinds favouring the cooler weather for birth, and most are up and running, spending their time ‘pronking’ around the parkland, enjoying the warm weather in the safe proximity of mum.

Our stags, currently separated from the hinds, are starting to sprout this year’s batch of furry antlers and are very spritely, enjoying the warm weather and cool ponds.

Thankfully since our last post the weather has broken and we have seen enough rainfall to kick-start grass growth for the herd to happily graze.  We will be moving the herd around to fresh pastures to ensure they have enough and to rest the already grazed areas. With the new life and extra growth we are hoping to have some more herbal lay to bale up soon and put into storage for the leaner winter months.

We hope that you are all keeping well and safe and we hope to be able to see you soon.

Helen and Antony