About the farm
Aberhyddnant Organic Farm
The Matthews family purchased Aberhyddnant in 1983 and it is run in partnership between Paul Matthews and his parents. The farm is some 91 hectares and ranges in altitude from 290m to 400m with an annual rainfall of over 2.5m. The land had been greatly neglected by the previous owners and it became a priority to bring the farm back into production whilst conserving the environmental attractions of the farm.
The farm has a herd of Murray Grey suckler beef cows, started in 1977 with 2 cows imported from Australia. A flock of Texel and Brecknock Hill Cheviot sheep graze the lush organic pastures with the cattle through much of the year.
Our Bovans Nera and Black Rock hens seem well suited to the Crai climate and live in small groups within our organic rotation. All the birds look extremely happy in their fox proof enclosures that give them plenty of freedom to roam.
We are a registered egg producer and all eggs are graded. Our hens are kept to very high organic standards of welfare and they produce lovely brown eggs.
Our pig numbers are growing with a combination of both Welsh and Gloucester Old Stop sows and a Welsh Boar. The gestation period for pigs is 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days so every few months a couple of sows farrow and there are more little piglets running around. They do love rooting up the stubble whatever the weather and this encourages a range of birds that feast on the uncovered insects.