Farming & the Environment

The Pigott family have been farming in the Harpenden area since the fifteenth century. We grow wheat for biscuits and breadmaking, malting barley for the whisky market, linseed and field beans for animal feeds and oilseed rape for vegetable oil. We also have two organic units growing organic wheat, triticale, oats and beans.

Annables Farm at Kinsbourne Green is a Leaf Demonstration farm, focussing on integrated farming, habitat creation and archeological preservation. The organic units are accredited by Organic Farmers and Growers

Education & Reconnection

Reconnecting children with agriculture and rural land use is very important to us.  Ian is very proud to have founded Farm Sunday which LEAF organise and promote. 

On Farm Sunday, (13th June 2010) farmers from up and down the country open their gates to welcome the Public  Last year 450 farmers opened up their farms and attracted over 200,000 visitors. 

We are a certified CEVAS (Countryside Visits Accreditation Scheme) farm and host a number of school visits each year.  Annables Farm is a wealth of information for many subjects within the curriculum especially:  science,  geography,  history and sociology.  Visits can be tailored to suit all children from Keystage 1-4.   If you are a teacher and would like to find out more about the integration of a visit to Annables within the school curriculum go to www.face-online.org.uk

To arrange a school visit please contact Leaf. 

Through our cultivation methods we have seen a marked improvement in both numbers and species of birds and butterflies.  In the past 10 years we have planted many miles of hedges and have created extensive wildlife margins. We work closely with Rothamsted Research and RSPB to create and improve habitats for as many wildlife species as possible.

Awards

In 2006 Ian Pigott was awarded the Farmers Weekly, Farming Champion of the Year award and in 2008 he received the coveted Countryside Alliance Rural Hero award for founding Farm Sunday and his ongoing commitment to reconnecting people with food and farming.