About Us

Firstly let me introduce myself.. my name is Paul Richards, born and bred in the west country. I am from a local farming background of 90 years father and grand father etc; I trained as an engineer on leaving school as an indentured apprentice toolmaker and went into the building trade at the age of 26 as a carpenter.

Coming from an agricultural back I felt the urge to own and work a small farm, then in 1991 an opportunity to fulfil this urge came up. A local farm on Coker Hill came up for auction, Hawkins farm consisted of 65 acres and in late 1991 I obtained 45 acres and the conservation fen organisation bought the other 15 acres across the other side of the A30.

I worked on the house and sheds for two years 91/93 to make it useable.

I then attended Bristol university, to obtain a degree in environmental sciences. My father helped to look after the farm while I studied, unfortunately my father passed away the day I qualified from university. So I have named the newly planted woodland in his memory. CLEMS WOOD - a true country man at heart.

With that qualification I have applied all my efforts to create a farm holding that will make a difference environmentally and educationally, to peoples lives.

Previous history of holding:

From 1998 the holding has farmed sheep and serviced an organic beef sucker heard which all came to a sad end with the foot and mouth crisis. Since then the holding has reared calves and hoteled water buffalo from another bio-dynamic farm undergoing alterations.

Reason for new ecological holding:

Agriculture is going through the most radical change since the 2nd world war AND so to remain part of it, one needs to be prepared to accept change or get out. I believe I can leave something behind that makes a difference to peoples lives.

My whole project has been well supported by local people and parish council.

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