January 2026 at Stourton

As winter continues to make its presence felt across the estate, there’s plenty happening at Stourton – from logs and venison to planning weddings and events in the woods and busy days on the farm. Here’s our latest round-up.

Kiln Dried Logs – Last of the Season

We’re coming towards the end of the log season, so if you’re planning a few more cosy fires before spring arrives, now is the time to place your order. Supplies are still available, but they won’t last long.

To place your order please click here

Venison Update – Perfect for Winter Cooking

There’s plenty of Stourton venison in stock, ideal for hearty winter casseroles and slow-cooked favourites.

Our next fresh venison delivery arrives on Friday 13th February, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Orders are open now, and we recommend booking early as price increases are expected soon. Click here to place your order.

We will be at East Marsh Farm at Goxhill on Saturday 14^th February where they have an open morning. A selection of fresh venison and some frozen burgers will be available to buy alongside their beef and products from other local producers. If you’re in the north of the county it would be great to see you there.

To order frozen venison please contact us at the farm office and we can arrange your order, take payment and arrange for home delivery or collection from the farm.

We have also recently supplied some of our venison to Dovecote Park, a key supplier to Waitrose & M&S, helping to support peak venison season.

Woodland Weddings at Stourton

If you’ve recently got engaged and are beginning to explore venues, Stourton Woods offers a truly special setting.

Tucked away among the trees, our rustic safari tent sits within beautiful woodland, overlooking lakes and open parkland. With flexible venue hire and supportive planning, couples are free to shape a wedding day that feels relaxed, personal and entirely their own.

Please feel free to browse the wedding section of the website where there’s loads of details available. To arrange a visit or to ask any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.

*** Here is our NEW woodland wedding gallery featuring real Stourton celebrations  ***

Estate News

With conditions still very wet, site work is on hold for now and will resume in early spring when ground conditions improve.

However, planning is underway for events in 2026. Here’s the list of our planned events so far:

Sunday 10th May – Spring Artisan Market with Lincolnshire Makers

Sunday 17th May – Wedding Fair with the Walled Garden Baumber

*NEW* Sunday 7th  June – Open Farm Sunday celebrating 100 years of farming at Stourton!

End of July / Early Aug TBC – Sunflower Field Event

Sunday 9th August – Summer Artisan Market with Lincolnshire Makers

Sunday 13th September – Stourton Food & Drink Fayre

We look forwards to being open again and seeing you come through our gates to enjoy the event and the estate as a whole. Please put these dates in your diary and keep an eye out on social media for more information and updates as the events get closer.

On the Farm

January has certainly tested us, with temperatures ranging from -9°C to 10°C, around 100mm of rainfall, and even some snow.

We made good use of the hard frost to roll cover crops, a chemical-free way of destroying them ahead of spring drilling. The frost snaps the stems and presses the plant matter into the soil, where worms do the work of breaking it down and releasing nutrients for the next crop.

Cover crops play a vital role on the farm – improving soil biology, reducing erosion during heavy rainfall, and helping protect the River Bain from soil and nutrient run-off, particularly on sloping land.

Once things dry out and temperatures rise, we’ll begin planting our spring oats and barley. The oats are destined for breakfast cereals and bars, while the barley is grown to malting specification – hopefully ending up in your favourite beer. These markets offer a premium, but they do require extra care and precision.

Caring for Livestock

The cattle are enjoying their winter housing on deep straw beds. We’ve recently added a McHale straw blower and silage feeder, which has made a real difference.

It allows us to bed and feed cattle without entering pens, reducing labour and improving safety. The cattle also seem to enjoy having straw gently blown over their backs! The same machine is used to feed silage to both cattle and deer, chopping and fluffing it to make it easier to eat.

Sugar Beet and Spring on the Horizon

Sugar beet lifting has been challenging due to ongoing wet conditions. A small amount was lifted in mid-January, but we’re now waiting for a drier spell to avoid damaging soil structure or risking machinery getting stuck.

With longer, drier days just around the corner, we’re looking forward to sharing more field activity and signs of spring with you very soon

Looking Beyond the Fields

January also gave David the chance to attend the Oxford Farming Conference, held in the historic Examination Halls at Oxford University.

Speakers included HRH Princess Anne, politicians, DEFRA officials, farmers and industry leaders. It’s a valuable opportunity to engage directly with those shaping the future of agriculture and to connect with others across the industry.

David attended as part of the OFC Inspire Programme, a group of 30–45-year-olds experiencing the conference for the first time. The atmosphere was positive and optimistic, giving real confidence in the resilience and future of British farming.

Deer Diary

Life in the deer parks continues to tick along well despite the wet weather.

The new straw chopper and silage feeder helps make the feed more digestible for the deer herd too.

The calves and yearlings are coping well in the colder weather, spending time in the roundhouse and being rotated around the parks to enjoy fresh pasture and give the ground a rest. Hopefully it won’t be long until we can release the calves back into the parkland to enjoy some spring weather