Humans form part of nature. Our interventions can be “natural” but only if they seek to nurture and maintain a productive balance. This is the essence of ‘Khilafa’ or ‘responsible stewardship’. Where the gift of free will is employed in the service of Gods creation.

This is an established principle in Islam and beautifully presented in the 12th Century allegory of Ibn Tufail where he paints a picture of an individual on a desert island, reflecting on the meaning and purpose of his life. He concludes that all of creation contains a breath of Gods spirit and it is his duty as a sentient, self reflective being, to seek to do ‘Gods work on earth’. And decides that for his sustenance.

“he would select only those things whose destruction by him would offer the least opposition to the intention of the creator; for example ripe fruit whose seed would still be available to reproduce their kind. If quantities of this sort of sustenance were insufficient, he would then use either fruit whose seeds themselves provided nutrition or vegetables which had not reached the limit of their growth…and he would be careful not to destroy the roots or seed. If none of the foregoing was available, he would allow himself to draw upon animals being careful not to impact the species”.

We strive to uphold these principles in managing the resources entrusted to us.

Our beautiful eco-house has 80cm thick cob walls (a mix of clay, sand, small stones and straw, similar to medieval wattle and daub, but without the special ingredient… manure!) the clay came from the farm (the pond in front), the straw from our neighbour and the sand and stone from a local quarry. Even the wooden structural beams are from an Oxfordshire sawmill ensuring a total 8 miles radius for all main materials!

The thatched roof was grown locally and put up by specialist thatchers (a father and son team) and is the perfect natural crown, ensuring any rain is carried far away from the walls. The stone foundations ensure the walls stay dry from ground water which would otherwise erode the cob. The final finish is a lime rendering which gives the whole house a smart finish but maintains the natural breath-ability of the cob walls as moisture levels inside are naturally regulated preventing damp or mould. The earthen cob walls act like the walls of a cave, creating a cool ambient temperature in the summer (no need for air-con) and holding in warmth in the winter.

The whole project took 4 years to complete! Mainly because it was built in stages while the sun was shining, giving us the longer days and higher temperatures to build and dry each layer of the walls before starting on the next. The other reason it took so long was because this was a self-build, by the hard work of our family, friends and volunteers.

Aside from the sustainable heating, provided by our boiler, the design of the building is such that it benefits from ‘passive heating’. The south facing windows at the front are large, to benefit from incoming solar radiation, whilst the north facing rear windows are small to reduce heat loss.

All the farms heating system is from the solid wood burning boiler, housed in the Boiler Room next to the Cob House. This building is also made from cob – the same material and building method as the Cob House. The boiler is simply a large furnace which takes solid wood logs, produced on our farm, which we season and split manually. This preparation is a year long task, as we need to store wood outside for a year and under cover for half a year in the summer to dry. We are splitting wood all year round. The wood is then burnt and provides the hot water and heating for our whole farm. Totally carbon neutral and sustainable.

To keep the boiler running in the depth of winter takes three wheelbarrow loads of wood and regular cleaning and checks throughout each day. So it is by no means easy, but the reduction of fossil fuel and taking responsibility to meet our own needs is worth it! In addition it forces us to take responsibility and consider how much heat we need as it is not simply there at the flick of a switch.

On the roof of the Boiler Room and across the Cafe roof there are solar panels providing a third of the whole farms & families energy needs. Across from the pond we also have a small wind turbine providing the electricity for the poultry electric fence. Over time we want to add further renewable energy to provide all of our electrical needs.

In the Winter our main focus is on maintaining their hooves, keeping them trimmed, clean and dry, as foot-rot is an ever-present risk. Foot-rot occurs when a hoof gets damp and dirty. A fungal infection can take up residence in the hoof, causing pain and blistering.

Spring is very busy, as in addition to the winter care tasks there is the added stress and joy of lambing! We start our day extra early and finish late, taking it in turns to check the sheep at hourly or two hourly intervals, depending on how many are ready to birth. If a mother is giving birth we will usually let her birth outdoors (unless the weather is bad) and afterwards move her indoors. If complications do develop it may need us to physically help the lamb come out. Most commonly the lamb will have a leg twisted back, needing gentle manipulation to get everything in the right place for the mother to deliver.

After the birth they are kept indoors for 24 hours while we monitor the mother and new lambs. Once we are certain they are healthy, and able to drink properly, they can be let out safely. In some cases there are mothers who are not able to care for their young, if this happens we bottle-feed the lambs ourselves and keep them up by our house until they are fully weaned and able to re-join the flock.

In the Summer and Autumn we carry out weekly checks rounding up the whole flock to trim hooves and due to the warmer weather we check for any signs or fly-strike. Fly-strike is a nasty affliction where flies will land on a sheep’s wool, and lay eggs in the warm damp wool around their legs and back. Once these eggs hatch the maggots will eat into the animals skin and if left unchecked they will cause severe infections and death in a matter of days! To combat this, intensive farming methods will use a strong chemical spray to kill and repel the flies. This is a very quick and easy method which can treat a whole flock for months. Unfortunately this chemical has proven to be carcinogenic, very harmful for humans and the environment, soaking into the ground and water system. At Willowbrook we instead take the time to check our flock regularly and if there is a risk of fly-strike we trim the wool away and apply a mix of garlic, tee-tree, citronella to heal the sheep and repel the flies.

Our sheep range rotationally over our pastures, which are in the Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) of the Cherwell River Valley. No herbicides are used on our farm so thistles and other weeds are never completely eradicated. Over time they are being reduced by regular cutting and grazing so a variety of natural grasses and clovers are becoming dominant.

Our sheep are kept at low stocking rates with a natural cycle that matches the cycle of grass availability. In the winter we have only the breeding ewes and rams, and a small number of lambs when there is less grass available. By springtime the new lambs are born and the grass availability is increasing as our flock grows. By the winter most of the lambs have grown and gone to market so the cycle can continue.

Over the Winter while the ewes are pregnant we give them extra attention and increase their diet with hay and some grains to maintain their condition through this demanding period. In addition, we let them into the woodlands and camping field where they graze on the drying grasses around the dormant trees.

We are now developing a more controlled grazing system, dividing the main sheep field into a number of paddocks separated by newly planted traditional hedgerow providing fodder and safe wildlife environments. Sheep will have access to each paddock for a limited period to improve nutrition and weed and pest control.

Silkie Chicken: Originating from China, named for its soft fluffy plumage. This breed has several unusual qualities, such as black skin and bones, blue earlobes and five toes on each foot, whereas most chickens only have four! Silkie chickens are very easy to keep as pets and have a very gentle temperament. The hens are also exceptionally broody, and care for their young well, they are even used to hatch eggs from other breeds and bird species.

Polish Bantam Chickens: A charming breed of small-sized poultry known and bred for their distinctive crests and friendly demeanour. In terms of egg production, Polish Bantams are not among the most prolific layers. However, they can still provide a moderate amount of small to medium-sized eggs. Beyond their ornamental appeal, Polish Bantams are admired for their active and lively personalities. They are curious by nature and enjoy foraging, scratching, and exploring their surroundings.

Guinea fowl: Endemic to the continent of Africa and rank among the oldest of the gallinaceous birds. Usually monogamous in nature, mating for life, however, occasional exceptions have been recorded to be polygamous in captivity. Guinea fowl travel behind herd animals and beneath monkey troops where they forage on the manure and on items that have fallen from the canopy.

Australorp Chickens: Originally from Australia, are a highly regarded breed known for their exceptional egg-laying capabilities and calm and friendly temperament. They are medium to large-sized birds with glossy black feathers that have a greenish sheen under certain lighting conditions. They adapt well to different climates and are generally hardy and resilient. Australorps are also valued for their dual-purpose qualities. While primarily known for their egg production, they can also be raised for meat, as they have a good meat-to-bone ratio making them a wonderful sustainable chicken.

Indian Game Chicken: Also known as Cornish Game Chickens, are a distinctive and robust breed originating from England. They are known for their muscular build, broad chest, and strong, compact appearance. They come in various colour variations, including dark, light, or spangled patterns, adding to their visual appeal. Initially developed for cockfighting, they are primarily raised for their flavourful gourmet meat. Generally calm and docile, with a relatively laid-back disposition. They are adaptable to various climates and exhibit good hardiness. While not known for their prolific egg-laying abilities, Indian Game hens can still produce a moderate number of brown or tinted eggs.

Araucana Chickens: Originating from Chile, a distinctive and fascinating breed known for their unique physical traits and blue-green coloured eggs. Uniquely different from regular chicken with tufts that grow near their ears, and rumplessness (means they lack a typical tail structure). They lay eggs with beautiful blue-green shells with variation ranging from pale blue to turquoise or olive. While not the most prolific layers, their unique egg colours make them a popular choice for those looking for something extraordinary. Generally calm and friendly and known for their hardiness and ability to forage efficiently.

Pygmy Goats: A quite hardy (and mischievous!) miniature goat that can adapt to virtually all climates. Originating from West Africa, they were taken to the United States in the 1950s for use in zoos as well as research animals. Although small in stature, they produce very large amount of milk and although not typical, they can be used in meat production.

Toggenburg Goats: Originating from Switzerland these are a versatile and highly productive dairy breed known for their distinctive appearance and excellent milk production capabilities. They have a characteristic color pattern, featuring various shades of brown ranging from light fawn to dark chocolate, with white markings on their face, legs, and tail. Their milk is often sought after for its rich and creamy quality, making it ideal for cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products. Beyond their exceptional milk production, Toggenburgs are known for their docile and friendly temperament, are adaptable and resilient, with great foraging abilities efficiently utilising pasture making them cost-effective to raise.

Anglo-Nubian Goats: A popular and distinctive breed known for their elegant appearance, versatile qualities, and high milk production capabilities. Originating from England, Anglo-Nubians are a large-sized breed with a graceful and elongated body structure. They are recognized for their unique facial profile, which includes a pronounced Roman nose and long floppy ears. Renowned for producing large volumes of rich and creamy milk with high butterfat content. This makes them a favoured choice among dairy goat keepers and artisanal cheese makers. Their friendly and sociable nature also makes them a wonderful addition to our farm, especially with a reputation for being particularly vocal and expressive, often “talking” or bleating with a melodious tone. They are known for their inquisitive nature and enjoy interaction with their human visitors.

The life of a laying hen is a simple one. There are far less stages and moving around than with the table birds (eating variety) For the first 4 weeks the chicks are reared in a smaller unit with heating as required. Then they move out onto the woodland range (we named this woodland Mirkwood after the scary spiders we have found here!) and by 22 weeks old they will begin to lay, steadily increasing until they lay an average of 2.3 eggs every 3 days – that’s almost one per day!

In more intensive commercial farming, hens are kept laying throughout the year by increasing the lighting through the winter and not giving the birds a rest period. As a result at about 60-70 weeks of age, egg production will slow down and this is called ‘end of lay’. The birds are referred to as ‘spent’ hens’. At approximately 72 weeks old the birds are removed and transported to the slaughterhouse.

However here at Willowbrook we try to give all our animals, not just a higher standard of welfare than commercial farms but we also adopt ethical and natural farming practices. We allow our hens a short break in the winter when the birds will naturally recover and go through a moult.

Moulting is a natural process where birds lose old feathers and grow new ones. At this time, the hen also stops laying eggs, allowing her reproductive process to rejuvenate. This is naturally brought on by reduced daylight hours in the winter.

By following this system we are not able to be as profitable but we are able to keep our chickens for 3 happy and healthy years on the farm. At the end of their laying life we will sell the female chickens as stock birds. These are too tough to eat normally but can be used for stewing and create a wonderful flavoursome stock and broth.

The story of our birds starts when as day-old chicks we place them in insulated housing for the first two weeks. They are kept warm inside, but quickly begin to explore and scurry around searching for food or simply mischief.

By the second week they are moved into one of the green houses (behind you) these provide more space as the grow. They are now almost fully feathered and developing their bone structure and muscles before putting on weight. The doors are open in the daytime allowing them to range freely. In fact they range so freely they occasionally escape through the fence to go to visit their neighbours or set off in a search party to raid our veg garden!

By comparison, the commercial breed of chicken are ready to eat at only four weeks old due to the intensive breed, indoor growing conditions and diet. Their bones are much weaker and are insufficient to support an active life, leading to chronic pain, broken bones and crippling deformities. Sadly this can apply to both organic and free range farming systems as the modern intensive breed of chicken is permitted in both. As consumers we need to check and look beyond certification and ask how our food is really produced.

By the time our birds are 4-5 weeks old they move out to the larger ranges and enjoy a further 7-8 weeks exercising, eating and living a welfare friendly halal life. They exhibit all the natural behaviour of healthy, inquisitive birds and obtain up to 10% of their diet outdoors on grass. By 12-13 weeks they are at full maturity and ready for sale. The natural life they live is reflected in the costs of production.

In 2017 we established our own abattoir facilities on the farm for all of our poultry. Whilst we have always personally slaughtered our poultry, we were dependent on the use of off-farm facilities. Since 2017 we have controlled the full process, from chick to the finished produce on the farm. For our birds this means far less stress, as they now move only a short distance, from the brooder sheds, out onto the ranges and finally back here to the abattoir. In the past when there were more small farms producing food for the local region, this level of care would have been a common feature. Sadly now it is extremely rare.

As we only produce a small number of chickens we are able to treat each individual bird with the respect it deserves during its life and death. The poultry are hand slaughtered, using a minimal pre-stun, adhering to both UK regulations and Islamic requirements. The only machinery used is post slaughter where an electric drum plucker (a bit like a washing machine on its side) helps us with feather removal, prior to final hand plucking.

In the butchery we do all the portioning and dressing of the finished chickens to our customers specific requirements, before placing the produce in our chiller.

By taking full responsibility for this whole process, and ensuring we are operating at a small sustainable level, we are able to confidently maintain our high welfare, hygiene, efficiency and quality standards.

Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management which exploits the capacity of many species of trees to put out new shoots from their stump or roots when cut. In a coppiced wood, which is called a copse, young tree stems are repeatedly cut down to near ground level, known as a stool. New growth emerges and after a number of years, the coppiced tree is harvested and the cycle begins anew. Pollarding is a similar process carried out at a higher level on the tree. The harvested wood can be used for weaving, poles and posts and some for fuel.

Typically a coppiced woodland is harvested in sections or coups on a rotation. In this way, a crop is available each year somewhere in the woodland. Coppicing has the effect of providing a rich variety of habitats, as the woodland always has a range of different-aged coppice growing in it, which is beneficial for biodiversity. The cycle length depends upon the species cut, the local custom, and the use to which the product is put.

Coppicing maintains trees at a juvenile stage, and a regularly coppiced tree will never die of old age; some coppice stools may therefore reach immense ages. The age of a stool may be estimated from its diameter, and some are so large, perhaps as much as 5.4 metres (18 ft) across, that they are thought to have been continually coppiced for centuries!

Hedge-laying is a countryside management skill practised mainly in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with many regional variations in style and technique. Hedge-laying is the process of bending and partially cutting (pleaching) through the stems of small trees near ground level and bending them over without breaking them, so they can grow horizontally and be intertwined

Hedge-laying originally developed as a way of containing livestock in fields after the acts of Enclosure in the 16th Century which restricted common grazing land. They also have the benefit of maintaining a diverse wildlife habitat

The theory behind laying a hedge is easy. The practice is much harder, requiring skill and experience. The aim is to reduce the thickness of the upright stems of the hedgerow trees by cutting away the wood on one side of the stem and in line with the course of the hedge. This being done, each remaining stem is laid down towards the horizontal, along the length of the hedge.

A stem which has been laid down in this manner is known as a pleacher or pleach. A section of bark and some sapwood must be left connecting a pleacher to its roots to keep the pleacher alive — knowing how much is one part of the art of hedgelaying.

At regular intervals upright stakes are placed along the line of the hedge. Hazel whips are then woven around the tops of the stakes, The woven whips are known as binders or heatherings; they can be of any green wood such as birch, ash, or willow which will hold the stakes and tops of the pleachers down securely. The stakes and binders used in hedgelaying when properly used provide strength and stability to the hedge.

Traditionally the hedgelayer’s tool was a billhook, supplemented with an axe or handsaw. Nowadays professional hedgelayers will often also use a chainsaw for larger pleachers.

Planted in 2019 this is our first attempt to formally grow willow for our weaving and fencing needs. Around the farm we already have plenty of willow varieties but most of these, such as the crack willow (salix fragilis) are not best suited for weaving. We have over the years planted some weaving varieties such as salix viminalis but, as our needs have grown, we obtained cuttings of other varieties which are planted here.

The willow can be harvested from the second year onwards, then annually for the next 30 to 60 years. The stems of willow wands will be individually cut after the leaf has fallen in November through to March. The cut willows will then be taken back to the farm for sorting and for use around the farm. If successful we intend to extend the area devoted to willow and along with our hazel plantings we hope in time to provide the farm with all its weaving and fencing needs.

Beekeeping, also known as apiculture, involves the care and management of bee colonies within specially constructed hives. The most commonly kept bees are honey bees from the genus Apis. Honey bees are social insects that live in colonies with a complex social structure. A colony consists of a queen, worker bees (females), and drones (males). Beekeepers, also called apiarists, maintain these colonies primarily to harvest their valuable products, such as honey, beeswax, propolis, and royal jelly. Beekeeping has been practiced for thousands of years and continues to be an important industry and hobby worldwide. The designated area where bees are housed is referred to as an apiary or “bee yard.”

Beekeeping requires knowledge, skill, and dedication. It can be a rewarding hobby, a sustainable agricultural practice, or a commercial enterprise. It is crucial to protect and conserve bees and their habitats to ensure their continued contribution to the environment and human well-being. Conservation efforts, sustainable agricultural and gardening practices, and reducing the use of pesticides are some of the ways to support and promote healthy bee populations.

This walk will take you along the hedgerow around the new wood, then you can continue along the medieval hedgerow, or enter the new woodland by the gate. The new woodland was planted in 2004. Around 5,000 native British woodland species of trees (oak, ash, birch, beech, willow, hazel and many, many more) were planted with the help of a long list of volunteers.

Early in the morning and in the late afternoon it is common to see deer enjoying the cover. Also squirrels and a variety of birds have made their homes in these trees, feeding on the diverse plant and insect life that the complex multi-layered forest eco-system gives rise to. This can be contrasted with the sterile, mono-culture, chemically polluted fields, usually encountered in the countryside such as the fields you passed on your journey to us today.

This woodland and grassland mix not only allows natural wildlife to live safely but doesn’t limit farming if managed carefully. We regulate the access of our sheep and pony to this area where they enjoy the range of plant life and it provides them natural shelter from rain, strong wind or the hot summer sun. Rotationally the woodland areas are managed by traditional practices of coppicing and pollarding.

This wood was probably planted around the mid 1900’s, although a few very old willows and oaks around the edges indicate that these trees have been continuously present and the double hedgerow along the eastern boundary indicates a medieval track linking Hampton Gay to Bletchingdon Village.

The woodland was probably harvested for timber then replanted with pine and some avenues of oak. Pine trees do not encourage a very diverse habitat, so over the years we will thin these out, allowing the oaks to open out and to encourage light and therefore other flora to re-colonise the ground. The dense cover does however make the Old Wood a haven for deer, badgers, foxes, pigeons and pheasants.

Come inside and enjoy reading our signs, find the dragon, play in the tree houses (be careful climbing!) and answer the riddles! In the centre of the woods, turn right to walk down the medieval track or turn left and go across the footbridge to the sheep field. Before crossing notice the old willows along the brook (from which we took the farms name). Some of these stumps will be well over 100 years old! But the branches are allowed to grow for only five years or so before cutting them back (pollarding). This allows us to harvest a continuous but sustainable source of fuel.

In 2017 we had some amazing tree houses built with sustainable materials. These incorporate bird boxes with special viewing hatches. Please be very careful when enjoying the woodland playground, bridges and rope-swings.

In September 2014 we planted a 3 acre woodland stocked with a range of traditional and in some cases rare and threatened varieties of fruit and nut trees, grasses and wild flowers. All of these trees are sponsored by our customers so please treat them with great care. If you’re returning to see how your tree has been developing please use the map to help locate your tree!

In total there are over 100 Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry, Quince, Mulberry, Walnut and Cob-nut trees. With many different varieties of each. This makes this whole orchard incredibly diverse with each tree bearing its own unique fruit!

This orchard provides another eco-system for wildlife to safely inhabit, however we do try to prevent deer and sheep from entering as they will damage the trees. Instead we allow the geese to roam here in the summer and mow (and fertilise!) the grass naturally.

Our veg garden is both for personal food production and to supply the café with fresh vegetables and salads. In the summer where there is a surplus there will be some available in the farm shop.

Inside the poly-tunnels you will find more tropical and delicate plants that require a little more care and heat. Outside in the raised beds there are a range of herbs, squashes, root crops, beans, onions, garlic, soft fruit and more!

Using no artificial inputs of any kind, all fertilisers and compost are made on site from the animals waste, plant matter, kitchen compost, and wood-chip. It has been a slow process improving the clay soil on the farm but we are now literally harvesting the fruits of our labour.

We also created a small covered prayer space and meditation area for visitors to enjoy and connect spiritually.

This planted hedgerow is putting back a field division that existed on early maps of the farm. Modern farming sought to remove hedgerows, to allow large machinery to cultivate large fields with mono-culture crops. This removed vital wildlife habitats and along with the increased use of chemicals has greatly reduced the number and variety of flora and fauna from the English countryside. By restoring the hedge we are hoping to reverse this process on our land.

The hedgerow was planted by volunteers over a couple of years. The bulk of the planting was done over one weekend by a mixed faith group of Muslims, Christians and Jews. The new hedge will be left for a number of years to establish and then we will start the process of ‘laying’ the hedge traditionally. Hedgelaying is a countryside management skill practiced mainly in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is the process of bending and partially cutting (pleaching) through the stems of small trees near ground level and bending them over without breaking them, so they can grow horizontally and be intertwined

Hedgelaying originally developed as a way of containing livestock in fields after the acts of Enclosure in the 16th Century which restricted common grazing land. They also have the benefit of maintaining a diverse wildlife habitat.

Our pond (in front of the cob-house) is a direct result of building the Cob house. We dug all the clay used to build our home from here, designed it with a shelf for wildlife and a 2m deep centre, and slowly over time a natural pond developed. It is now full of life from insects to amphibians. We also have regular visitors, green and blue dragonflies, damselflies, swans, ducks and a heron with a bad leg.

It also doubles as a natural swimming pool for our family to enjoy in the brief English summer with the plant-life around the perimeter providing a safe-zone for wildlife, natural filtration and oxygenation. On an especially hot day Khalil (and anyone else crazy enough) will simply jump straight in and cool off with the frogs.