A taste of smallholding

This course aims to give visitors a hands-on insight into the fundamentals of running a smallholding. The session is run by Senara Higgs, owner of Hendra Farm, who uses her years of experience from running her farm in Cornwall to give practical advice on the day-to-day demands of running a smallholding. The course will not only provide valuable knowledge on choosing and keeping livestock, but will also introduce the other major aspects of smallholding such as land management and stock control.

Some of the topics covered will be:

• Choosing & keeping livestock
• Land Management - fencing, weed control, pasture rotation
• What records do you need to keep?
• Where to purchase your stock
• Selling excess produce and stock
• The dos and don’ts of smallholding (from years of experience!)
• Self sufficiency – how to start the process!

As with all our courses at Hendra Farm, the direction of the sessions will stem from our visitor's interests and needs.

Course will run for approx. 4 hours

Cost per adult £75 (Second adult £65)

Prices include light refreshments

Course dates are:- Saturday 20th March 2010

Additional dates and weekday courses can be arranged

Pre booking is essential

Keeping Poultry – an introduction

This is a starter course designed for people who are interested in keeping a few chickens or ducks in the garden.  As always Senara will gear this to being fun and informative. This is a great  introductory course and families are welcome. The course will introduce you to:

• Choosing the right bird for you – meat or eggs, hybrid or pure bred
• How to protect your birds - housing and fencing
• Feeding and husbandry
• Common problems and ailments

This is a very hands-on session so appropriate clothing is essential!

Course will run for approx. 2 hours

    Prices for adults £25 per person

Children 15 and under £15

Family of four £65

Course dates are:- Please contact Senara 07506 604445 or email

Pre booking is essential

Keeping and Rearing Poultry

This is a more in depth course designed for people who would like to learn more about keeping and rearing poultry (will also include keeping and breeding rheas). Hatching and incubation will be looked at,  as well as the rearing of young birds for meat or egg laying. The course will cover:

• Choosing stock - where to buy
• Looking at meat and egg laying breeds
• Housing, fencing and runs
• Feeding and handling
• Welfare – common pests and diseases
• Hatching and incubation
• Rearing for meat and eggs
• Rheas

    This is a hands-on session so appropriate clothing is essential!

Course will run for approx. 3 1/2 hours

Cost per adult £65  (Second adult £50)

Prices include light refreshments

Course dates are:- Please contact Senara 07506 604445 or email

Pre booking is essential

Rear, Kill, Pluck, Gut and Dress

This course is specifically designed for anyone wanting to rear their own poultry for meat. Discussions will include the rearing and preparation of all types of poultry.

The course will cover:

• Choosing the breed to rear for the table
• Rearing from day old to killing weight
• Humane slaughter of your bird
• Plucking
• Gutting (or drawing)
• Dressing

This will be a very 'hands on' course as each student will be shown how to kill and prepare a chicken, and they will be able to take home the resulting 'oven ready' bird!

Course will run for approx. 3 hours.

Cost per adult £65 (to include refreshments and oven ready bird to take home)

Course dates are:- Please contact Senara 07506 604445 or email

Additional dates and weekday courses can be arranged

Pre booking is essential

If any of these courses would be of interest to you, then please contact Senara for a friendly chat on 07506 604445 or email info@hendrafarm.co.uk with your details.

Special rates are available for short break/course packages.

Additional dates and weekday courses can be arranged. All courses must be paid for in advance - no refunds will be made, but alternative dates offered.

We would also be delighted to hear from you if you have any suggestions for other courses that would be of interest.

'My smallholding course was a real hands-on experience when I spent the best part of a day at Hendra Farm, where I helped out with the Herdwicks and the Jacobs: trimming feet, giving injections and rounding up as well as creosoting a pig ark and feeding/watering the poultry and horses. I was rewarded with a kiss or two from the alpacas and a peck or two from the rheas!! Senara's farm has to be the most organised, tidy, clean farm I have ever seen and her experience, enthusiasm and common sense an inspiration. I could quote many pearls of wisdom from Senara but the best has to be that whilst we are responsible for ensuring top quality care and welfare for our animals, we should also expect their respect and manners too, so, the horses waited for their hay, Trubble the Jacob (as trained to walk on a halter) was expected to lead the other less confident sheep and her Springer Spaniel expected to wait at the gate before being given permission to go into the field'.

                                                        Jack Smellie

(as printed in the CGOS Newsletter December 2009)

Our laying flock

Call Ducks

Ready for the oven!