When Coopers Farm was purchased by the current owners, the holding was in a terrible state of repair. It was in effect unfarmable, because every fence was beyond repair, and needed to be replaced to hold any animals. Another aspect of concern was the original barn, which was built after the 'Great Storm' in October 1987. The barn had not been used for some considerable time, and had become an eyesore, with rotton hay, and flytipping.
After discussions with the District Council planners and local neighbours a planning application was submitted to repair and restore the barn into a useable building for housing our livestock. Following planning permission worked started to restore the barn. The restoration of the barn also included an owl box to help encourage barn owls onto the farm. The clean up and local workmanship has certainly made a visual improvement on the barn and of course the High Weald landscape. But more importantly, it provides a viable building for winter housing of our Sussex Beef herd.
Winter housing of beef animals is really important especially in the High Weald, because the clay soils become waterlogged and can lead to poaching of the ground. With the restoration of this barn, it will allow our animals to keep dry and warm without having any detrimental impact on the soils during the winter months.
