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business of G & JA Sedgewick was officially up and running . The farm has some 300 acres of grassland , with another 40 acres near Bishop Auckland . As soon as Julie and Gordon took on Binchester Hall Farm it was entered into a Countryside Stewardship scheme , this allowed them to focus on and improve the natural environment , which has always been one of Gordon ’ s passions . The financial incentives were a welcome bonus as well .
Binchester Hall Farm is steeped in history . Way back in 1586 , Roman remains were discovered , and the significant Binchester Roman Fort was uncovered in the 19th and 20th centuries . This was a spectacular find and the area is a Scheduled Monument . Soon after the Sedgewicks had taken on the farm , they began noticing other remains appearing when they were ploughing . An arable reversion programme was instigated to help preserve the site . To add to Binchester ’ s fame , Time Team and Tony Robinson came and made a programme about it . The only downside was that it
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attracted a lot of people with metal detectors who had little respect for the farmland and trampled everywhere .
When they took on Binchester Hall back in 1995 , they brought with them a small sheep flock which they ’ ve now built up to 700 ewes ( North of England Mules and Suffolk and Texel crosses ), all put to Suffolk and Texel tups . They started a suckler herd , with some dairy cross heifers from Gordon ’ s brother , John Sedgewick . They were put to a Limousin bull . Julie and Gordon took to the Limousin Breed straight away ; they suited both them and the farm . They continued to keep home-bred heifers and bought in some more three-quarter Limousin type cows . The herd developed as a mainly black cow herd , always being put with a Limousin Bull . Focus has always been on selling quality store calves at 9-12 months old , with the knowledge that they will go on and finish well for the buyers .
As well as showing sheep and organising shows , Julie was always interested in showing commercial cattle . Utilising her
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knowledge from showing sheep , she set about preparing animals from the commercial herd for showing . It was not long before she had her first commercial breed champion in 2007 and from then on , the quality and renown of the Sedgewick commercial herd grew and grew . Culminating in the winning of the highly prestigious Beef Farmer of the Year title in 2015 at the Northern Farmer of the Year Awards .
2010 was a significant year in the development of the business ; they were offered the opportunity to move to the 500 acre Ricknall Grange at Aycliffe , Co Durham by their landlords .
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This was an ideal and timely opportunity as they had really outgrown the farm at Binchester , particularly because of the Roman remains and being in a scheduled area meant they were unable to put up new buildings . Negotiations with the Church Commissioners proved fruitful which resulted in them giving up the house and small number of buildings but retaining most of the land , which they had worked hard to nurture and develop in line with the Countryside Stewardship Scheme .
This left a clear and sensible opportunity to take on the Ricknall Grange
Continued on page 36
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