At South Yeo Farm East we have developed a number of affordable practical one-day training courses for smallholders covering a range of smallholding related topics from keeping your first birds or livestock to managing the land. We know that starting out on your smallholding dream can be daunting so why not come along for a fun and relaxed day to gain a little confidence before launching into keeping your first livestock or buying a tractor? Please take a moment to look through our diary of scheduled course dates below
Courses have been run at the farm now since 2006 and we always welcome suggestions for new topics; if we cannot run one ourselves, we will find someone who can! If the dates don’t suit or you have a group, do contact us as we run private tailored course days too.
All courses involve a mix of both practical hands on and classroom sessions in our restored cob barn training facility. We limit numbers to 10 places to allow lots of space and opportunity to ask questions throughout.
We deliver most of the courses ourselves: Gillian draws on her experience having grown up on a smallholding, managing the farm livestock and she also worked for 7 years as a Farm and Rivers advisor for the Westcountry Rivers Trust where she delivered environmental training courses. Ian has a lifetime’s experience from growing up on the farm with his family and seemingly had his hands permanently inside various bits of machinery!
Why come on a course with us? Over the last couple of years an increasing number of people have begun to offer smallholder training however there is currently no certification system for delivering such courses, so how can you be sure the quality of the material we deliver is up to the high standard you would expect?
To reserve a place on any of the courses above, please send details of your name, address, telephone number, email (for confirmation, agenda, directions etc.), and either request our BACS details by emailing us or send a cheque for £70.00 per person / £135.00 per couple (accompanied children under age 16, £45) made payable to ‘South Yeo Farm East’ to South Yeo Farm East, Northlew, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 3PS and be sure to indicate which course it is for.
If you wish to purchase a course place as a gift, please let us know and we can email a personalised voucher and course details for you to print for you to give to your loved one.
We will acknowledge your booking upon receipt of your details and payment, and will send details of any special requirements or equipment you may need to bring, a map to find us here at South Yeo Farm East, and look forward to seeing you on the day. Your details will be held in confidence and will NOT be passed on to any third parties. Bookings are taken on a first come first served basis and we may run a waiting list for some courses or put on additional dates if demand is high. Payment is required in advance to reserve a place. Should you need to cancel please let us know as soon as possible and we can re-book you on an alternative date or refund you. Cancellations received within 2 weeks of the course date will be refunded at 50% of the course fee received. We regret we are not able to refund cancellations received within 24 hours of the course date or for no-shows. We rarely have to cancel a course, but reserve the right to do so (with full refund or re-booking) should outside circumstances force such a decision. Although the training room is wheelchair accessible, unfortunately the farm is not easily navigable. Regrettably we are not able to allow dogs to come along on training days as we have livestock running loose and our own keen border collies who can be territorial!
We are unable to offer accommodation but if you are interested in attending a course and are coming some distance, some local B&Bs are listed on our links page for your convenience.
To reserve a place on any of the courses above, please send details of your name, address, telephone number, email (for confirmation, agenda, directions etc.), and either request our BACS details by emailing us or send a cheque for £70.00 per person / £135.00 per couple (accompanied children under age 16, £45) made payable to ‘South Yeo Farm East’ to South Yeo Farm East, Northlew, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 3PS and be sure to indicate which course it is for.
If you wish to purchase a course place as a gift, please let us know and we can email a personalised voucher and course details for you to print for you to give to your loved one.
We will acknowledge your booking upon receipt of your details and payment, and will send details of any special requirements or equipment you may need to bring, a map to find us here at South Yeo Farm East, and look forward to seeing you on the day. Your details will be held in confidence and will NOT be passed on to any third parties. Bookings are taken on a first come first served basis and we may run a waiting list for some courses or put on additional dates if demand is high. Payment is required in advance to reserve a place. Should you need to cancel please let us know as soon as possible and we can re-book you on an alternative date or refund you. Cancellations received within 2 weeks of the course date will be refunded at 50% of the course fee received. We regret we are not able to refund cancellations received within 24 hours of the course date or for no-shows. We rarely have to cancel a course, but reserve the right to do so (with full refund or re-booking) should outside circumstances force such a decision. Although the training room is wheelchair accessible, unfortunately the farm is not easily navigable. Regrettably we are not able to allow dogs to come along on training days as we have livestock running loose and our own keen border collies who can be territorial!
We are unable to offer accommodation but if you are interested in attending a course and are coming some distance, some local B&Bs are listed on our links page for your convenience.
