Tedfold Cottage Farm

Tedfold Cottage Farm

We are Neil, Michaela and Oliver Giles, a small family run smallholding on the Sussex / Surrey border and near a direct train service from London Victoria. We specialise in and exhibit British Saddleback pigs with an emphasis on the rarer bloodlines. We also have other prick and lop eared breeds kept purely to show our pig course delegates. In addition we run a small flock of Welsh Mountain Badger Face sheep and breed Brahma Chickens.

We have been smallholders for nearly 15 years and Michaela was raised on a farm in Surrey, where horses were her first passion. In addition to a combined 30 years of smallholding experience, Michaela has both an honours degree and Ph.D. gained while working in the animal health industry. We also attend continuous professional development courses on a very regular basis and all this experience and learning is passed directly to our pig and smallholding course delegates.

Our pig herd consists of 6 different rare bloodlines of British Saddleback sows (5 very rare) and two boar bloodlines (one so rare the BPA has an active involvement). We also have other pedigree breeds including Gloucester Old Spots, Oxford Sandy and Blacks, Mangalitza, Berkshire (arriving soon) and Middle whites (arriving soon). Our total pig numbers are small enough that we know each of our pigs intimately and we can share that intimacy with our pig course delegates but large enough that we can help the BPA and British Saddleback Club preserve the rarer lines. We have litters all year round so there are usually small piglets, which, depending upon the mother, can be cuddled.

Our one-day pig course covers everything you need to know to get you started on your road to pig keeping, whether that is a couple of outdoor reared pet pigs, a couple of weaners fattened to pork or bacon weight or the start of a breeding programme. We cover the husbandry, rules and regulations, keeping your herd healthy, purchasing stock, identification, breeding, marketing and what to do when the time comes. The course programme is approx.50:50 discussion and hands-on time. The hands-on time includes feeding the pigs, going into their pens and being able to feel, touch and interact with pigs of different ages and best of all in the afternoon each delegate can have a go at stick and boarding some of our trained pigs – great fun and a valuable never forgotten experience gained. We try an provide maximum hands-on time without skimping on the necessary discussion, and feel that you can read vast volumes of knowledge at home but you cannot get quality hands-on piggy time so easily. All delegates will leave with a comprehensive, colour course manual, additional literature and on-going support when they decide to keep pigs. Lunch and all refreshments are included all you need to bring are some waterproof boots and a coat.

The half-day course is 90% hands-on and concentrates on handling and training pigs to the stick and board. We also show you how to select a pig with show potential, how to judge underlines, showing and ring etiquette and show preparation. Most of the time is allocated to tons of stick and board training, first with trained pigs and then with untrained pigs, so you know what it will be like when you get home!! Again a comprehensive colour course manual of the course is provided for each delegate and afternoon refreshments.

Full details, customer testimonials and a copy of the course programmes are on our website www.tedfoldcottagefarm.co.uk. Discounts are available for two or more booking at the same time and we can also provide gift vouchers for either of the pig courses, our new smallholding taster days and our chicken/sheep courses. The ultimate gift.

So if you want a comprehensive, informative and fun pig course with loads of hands-on time then please take a look at our website.