A look inside Helen Browning's Organic Farm

By Jessica Durston - 8 April 2022

Food & DrinkCommunity

Swindon Link were invited to visit Helen Browning's Organic Farm in Bishopstone, meet the animals, and see its use cutting-edge farming techniques.

Helen Browning, with rescue dog George

Helen Browning's Organic (HBO), based at Eastbrook Farm in Bishopstone, has been organically producing for over 30 years. 

The farm specialises in dairy, beef, pigs and cereals. Helen's produce can be found in supermarkets including Sainsbury's and Ocado. As well as the superstores, her products are sold through Abel & Cole, Amazon Fresh and whole food markets. 

Aside from meat products, the farm sells homemade beverages and honey. The HBO team are also working towards releasing gin. 

Those interested in finding out more about Helen Browning's Organic produce and its food subscription boxes can visit https://helenbrowningsorganic.co.uk/shop/

Over time, the HBO team have looked at different ways to improve animal welfare, to work and produce sustainably, and to farm and provide delicious organic food. 

The family farm has been passed down over time and with Helen's children now involved, it is now third generation. 

Helen Browning said: "When I took over Eastbrook at the age of 24, I was pretty convinced that organic farming had a lot to offer. After researching, I didn’t come back to my team straight away and say we’re definitely going to go all the way – I wanted to experiment with the techniques and things.

“I had a very strong interest in organic farming and having done some trials in the first year, I became convinced it would work for the whole farm.”

As well as overseeing the farm, Helen is Chief Executive of the Soil Association, and has served on the Curry Commission into the Future of Farming. She was also awarded the OBE for her services to farming in 1998.

The farm boasts a wide range of wildlife including the cows and pigs that HBO are famous for, but also the other animals the farm draws in. The forward-thinking rewilding approach that Helen Browning takes with the farmland attracts other wildlife, including all five species of British owl, corn buntings, buzzards, and a whole host of insects. 

In addition, 30 species of UK birds that appear on every conservationists' 'red list' have also been spotted on site.

National Geographic have previously shot documentary footage at the farm, and are due to visit again later this year. 

When asked about the key to the success of the farm and its products, Helen said: “I think we have been very agile in terms of trying to explore what will work at what times. We’ve always had a pretty clear idea of where we want to get to but we’ve taken different routes to at different times. I think having a really clear sense of direction but being flexible with how we achieve has been the secret of our survival so far.

“Also attracting really fantastic people who want to help has been key. You can have all these wonderful ideas but unless you’ve got an amazing team of people around you, you cannot make it all happen."

Helen's business partner Tim Finney, who owns the farm's Royal Oak pub, added: "Ultimately, we have a responsibility here to create interesting jobs, and to constantly look at different ways to improve the welfare of our animals and the health of our soil."

The farm is open for visits from members of the public and there are events that are held on site. People can enjoy a farm safari, which allows attendees to tour the spanse of the farmland, take in the views, and see the livestock. 

As well as the tours, HBO offers courses in photography, guided walks, birdwatching tours, and spaces for picnics and camping. 

For those that do not wish to spend their evenings outdoors, HBO offers twelve hotel rooms at its Royal Oak pub that is located adjacent to the farmsite. Visitors can enjoy a meal inside the rustic pub, enjoy the gardens and deck, and visit the farm shop that is right next door. 

Helen said of the farm's open door approach: "We always want to be as accessible to as many people as possible. We want people to come and have a look at our farm, to touch and explore and understand it – warts and all.

"I think people want to have fun, enjoy nature, and good food. Quite often they may come to eat with us and wonder why the food tasted so great, and then will be inclined to explore the farm. We’re so keen that more and more people have a deeper and more fulfilling and enjoyable understanding, and connection with nature, farming, and their food."

One of the projects Helen Browning is currently experimenting with is agroforestry. Put simply, this means the combination of trees and agriculture. Helen and her team have planted a variety of different trees across eight different fields they have within their land. 

Some species of tree are native and some seeds have been imported into the farm. The trees will grow and turn the fields into an orchard-style setup. Once established, Helen is keen to allow her livestock to graze in these fields and benefit from the shelter and the different wild environments they will provide - just like farmers used to in times gone by.

This five-year-old experiment is running at a cost as the trees still need to grow and it is too early to ascertain the success of the endeavour, but Helen is still determined. 

She added: "This place has still got so much more opportunity to develop further. Nothing is perfect, but it’s all about trying to move things in the right direction.”

HBO also take an innovative approach to their planting and ploughing. The farm uses a machine that drills into the soil and plants the seeds at the appropriate depth. This machinery does not disturb the soil like an ordinary plough and the fields are still green, providing a space for wildlife.

When asked about the future of organic farming, Helen said: "There’s a lot more people involved in organic farming and innovation now than it felt like 35 years ago. Back then you felt very much out on your own and now you feel like there’s a whole bunch of people who are trying to get good stuff to happen.

"I’d love to think that we were still the ones out there championing this kind of farming at the forefront but I think that would be overstating or overgenerous of me to say. There is a good lot of folk who are really up for changing the way we do things."

More information about Helen Browning's Organic Farm can be found on its website at https://helenbrowningsorganic.co.uk/

HBO are also offering an online coupon for Swindon Link readers. The code SWINDLINK can be used at checkout for £10 off an individual's first Meat Box order.

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