Jul 29, 20212 min read

AGM & Summer Herd Visit 2021

The annual summer herd visit of the THBC was kindly hosted by Nicki & John Beavan of Parsons Hall Farm, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire on 28th July.

The day saw a very well-attended morning meeting of the Club held in the magnificent tithe barn adjacent to the farm house at Parsons Hall, one of England's oldest historic Cruck timber frame buildings dating back well over 700 years and sympathetically restored by the Beavan family using traditional skills and materials. At the meeting, positions of office were elected (results below) having been postponed from the usual AGM date earlier in the year, and this was followed by lunch in the beautiful grounds and garden of the house, after which the group were taken on a tour of the Parsons Hall herd of Traditional Hereford cattle.

Farmed extensively and incorporating liquid seaweed products and aeration techniques to enhance soil and plant health, the grass-based farm comprises permanent pasture meadows with mixed grasses, wildflowers and herbs grazed by the cattle to produce Traditional Hereford beef sold direct to the consumer. Invited to speak to the group was Dave Edwards of Edwards Agricultural Supplies, who explained the role that seaweed and other natural products play in soil fertility, and how they had been used alongside ground aeration at Parsons Hall to maximise the health of the old grass leys. The farm also offers its magnificent buildings for hire as events and filming venues, along with Treeopia, a luxury treehouse holiday retreat featuring some of renowned cabinet maker John Beavan's own bespoke handmade pieces from his workshop on the estate.

The Club would like to thank Nicki and John Beavan for providing such a wonderful welcome and for hosting a tremendously interesting visit for all. Thanks also go to the many Club members who attended the first in-person meeting of the THBC for well over a year, and to Dave Edwards from Edwards Agricultrual Supplies and Paul Sneyd, Mark Roberts and Phil Allman from the Hereford Cattle Society for coming along to meet the membership. The next Club meeting is due to be held in November, date TBC.