The Farmers Mart Aug/Sep 2015 - Issue 41 | Page 44

Home Farm Telling the wood from the trees at Methley »»Tree education, treefriendly sheep and the return of deer to Methley Estate are three of the more recent additions to the portfolio at Home Farm in Methley where Martin Hodgson is farm manager. Chris Berry went along to find out more. While the tree-related first two of that triumvirate are much newer initiatives, the deer comeback actually took place during the reign of Martin’s father, David as farm manager. “The deer came back in 2000” Martin explained. “We had had some open cast mining undertaken by the coal company, Banks. As part of the consideration for mining there is always a restoration of the fields used and on this occasion they also put up the deer fencing that we needed. We presently have 60 red deer hinds and two stags. Locallyproduced venison has become a popular meat in recent years and we sell our stock to Nigel Sampson’s Home Farmed Venison company in Ouseburn and Sherburn-in-Elmet. Leeds Country Way comes past the deer park providing walkers with another interest factor.” After a decade in the East Riding as farm manager on the 1,200 acre Drewton Manor Estate at South Cave, Martin came back to the farm and estate 10 years ago, when his father was due to retire. “We came to Methley from the Harrogate area when I was 10 years old. My father had worked for Guy Reed in Nidd before coming here. I studied at Askham Bryan College and worked for a local market garden enterprise and agricultural contractor, David Clark in Aberford, before joining dad here when I was 21. I worked with him for six years and knew there was a good chance that I would get the farm manager’s job when he retired but didn’t want to wait that long, which is why I took up the job at Drewton Manor. Billingley Christmas Trees Honesty - Integrity - Value Nordman, Norway, Fraser • Stands • Quality and Service Proud to supply Martin at Methley Estate • Office: 01709 895162 - Farm: 07811 610359 - Email: [email protected] www.billingleychristmastrees.co.uk - Barnsley, South Yorkshire 44 Aug/Sep 2015 www.farmers-mart.co.uk