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Talk and Tour at Eastbrook Farm
On Monday, 30th June 2025, 6pm
Eastbrook Farm, White Pit, Shillingstone, Blandford Forum DT11 0SZ
This year Shaun Leavey has arranged a visit to Eastbrook Farm, a Dorset Council Country Farm, in Shillingstone. The organic beef farm does a great deal of diversification alongside the commercial livestock enterprise.
Thank you to our members and their guests who attended the very informative farm visit.
Eastbrook farm is an organic beef farm on the banks of the River Stour, which sits on the Wessex Ridgeway with stunning views across to the Iron age forts of Hambledon and Hod Hill. The farm has diversified, for a number of years, with their ‘Showground Field’ hosting the Three Okefords Steam Rally, the Dorset Gravel Dash and three events a year from the Bournemouth and District Car Club. Eastbrook farm also hosts visits from The Somerville, a South London Community Centre, supporting children from an Afro Caribbean background.
From a farming perspective, it is a grass based Organic beef unit with approx. 40 sucklers cows, a combination of Angus, Ruby Red Devons, Limousin and Blues, calving in April / May and rearing the majority for slaughter. It carries two years of offspring, circa 120 head. The farm is a closed herd, breeding its own replacement heifers.
Eastbrook Farm is a Dorset Council Country Farm, extends to 56 hectares (139 acres), will an additional 30 acres rented locally. Julian and Felicity Speers took on the farm in March 2012, being first generation farmers following a short career in the Army. The farm was converted from an Dairy farm to a suckler unit following the introduction of NVZ (Nitrate Vulnerable Zones) restrictions. The original farm house was sold in a derelict condition by the landlord at the start of the tenancy and Julian built the new Agricultural Occupancy Condition (AOC) farm house following a number of years living in the centre of the village.
In addition to being Organic, Eastbrook farm is also in the mid Stour catchment area and subscribes to both the Countryside Stewardship scheme and the Sustainable Farming Incentive. The farm has invested in a variety of complimenting environmental schemes which have seen a growth in wildlife diversity in the last decade.
What to bring for the Talk and Farm Tour?
The escorted tour will take around 50 minutes, on flat ground and will be relatively gentle going. If inclement weather is predicted, please dress appropriately. The introduction talk will be under cover.
PROGRAMME
| 6pm | Arrive and welcome. Refreshments provided. |
| 6:10 pm | Talk from Jules Speers on the farm, diversification, environment schemes and the economics of modern small scale tenancy farming. Followed by a Q&A. |
| 6:25 pm | Farm Tour – this route will take you through the farm yard, show ground (impact of events), herbal leys and the Suckler herd. |
| 7:15 pm | Return to the Farm. |
Directions to the farm – meeting point
Eastbrook Farm, White Pit, Shillingstone, Blandford Forum, DT11 0SZ
Eastbrook Farm is on the edge of Shillingstone, just off White Pit on the A357 Blandford Road.
If coming from Sturminster Newton, stay on the A357 towards Blandford Forum leaving the village built up area. You will pass a layby on your left, turn next right at the grass triangle and then left up the farm track.
If traveling from Blandford, from down the hill into Shillingstone, turn left as soon as you hit the 30mph sign and then left up the farm track.
Shillingstone – Google Maps – 50.8902607, -2.2389672
How to book for Eastbrook Farm Visit – booking now closed
We hope very much that you will be able to come. Dorset CPRE is extremely grateful to the family for kindly agreeing to host this visit on Monday evening, 30th June. There is no charge. Sorry, no dogs allowed.
If you would like to come, please ‘Book Now’, guests are welcome.
We encourage members to car share where possible.
