A Suffolk farming family is starring in a new DVD which looks at past and present arable production.
The Barker family of Lodge Farm, Westhorpe, Suffolk take centre stage in Land of Our Fathers, a modern arable farming story.
As well as taking viewers through the farming year, the DVD also tells the story of the farm, from its Tudor links through to the present day. It shows how cousins Patrick and Brian Barker are running a productive farm while working to improve the range of wildlife within it.
Alan James of production company Second Sight said the DVD would not have been made without the help of British Farmer & Grower regional advertising representative Jan Riches.
“Jan mentioned the Barker family to me and said it would make an interesting film. I came to meet Patrick and Brian, and Patrick’s father David and realised it would make a very special programme,” he said.
“They are doing ground breaking work here but there is also a lot of history to the farm as well, and that convinced me it was worth making the film.”
Patrick Barker said he hoped the film would demonstrate that it is possible to farm productively while also looking after the environment.
“You can see the benefits of it. This farm is bursting with wildlife,” he said.
Lodge Farm has been recognised at national level by winning National FWAG’s Silver Lapwing Award for Farming and Conservation and Patrick and Brian Barker were named Countryside Farmers of the Year by Farming Weekly.
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