With happy livestock, soils in good shape and a great foundation to pick up from, Willow Hall Farm represents an amazing opportunity for a regeneratively-minded Landseeker. Having been in the Hampton family since 1920, the farm has been biodynamic since 1998 and has run everything from arable, cattle, pigs and poultry to a renowned local butchery and associated educational activities.
With a desire for more support on the farm, the Landholders are now looking to find the right farming partner(s) to add enterprises and provide support with the existing operations on the farm. Currently, all work is done by father and son, whereby the son is keen to continue but due to chronic ME, is unable to run the farm without support. That said, he has a wealth of knowledge and passion for the farm – a great asset for anyone joining the team!
The values of the farm
Willow Hall farm operates by following principles:
- Respect for Life — We honour the wellbeing of all living things, caring for animals, people, and soil with patience and compassion.
- Integrity in Stewardship — We act with honesty, humility, and responsibility toward the land we’ve been entrusted with.
- Regeneration — Every action aims to restore vitality — in ecosystems, in people, and in the community around us.
- Simplicity & Sufficiency — We value a modest, balanced life where quality defines success.
- Learning & Partnership — We welcome collaboration and shared learning, supporting others while continuing to grow ourselves.
- Continuity & Care — We build for the long term — ensuring the farm remains a source of purpose, stability, and nourishment for future generations.
Farm Facts
| Country | England |
| Region | Essex |
| Farm size (ha) | 60.7 |
| Land types | Pastures, cropland, hedges and trees |
| Current operations | Beef, arable cropping, poultry, conservation & education |
| Current team | Run by the Landholders (father & son, supported by mother) |
| Customers | Have sold direct to customers locally, and niche grain markets |
Opportunity Facts
| Enterprise | Setting up or expanding one enterprise, such as egg production / pigs / revamping the butchery. This must also include support for the current farm operations. |
| Land available (ha) | The whole holding is available, albeit provided existing operations can continue. |
| Likely scale | Up for discussion |
| Stock available | 80 layers, 200 hens reared, 24 breeding cows w/ calves |
| Infrastructure available | Multiple barns, equipped butchery, lean-tos and workshops, arable machinery including combine and 3 tractors |
| Farming principles | Biodynamic Farming |
| Agreement type | For discussion, open to profit-share arrangement |
| Accommodation | Accommodation can be made available on-site, likely static caravan to start with. Longer term options are available. |
| Market access | Established local demand for eggs, selling reared layers, meat and sausages (but infrastructure warrants revamping and expansion when scaling up enterprises) |
What you can expect
- Committed and supportive Landholders with a huge knowledge bank
- A long-term opportunity
- A beautiful holding, vibrant with biodiversity and a good reputation
- Living soils with good fertility and resilience
- Healthy farm economics with room for expansion
- Good infrastructure and equipment to start from
- A unique position as the only biodynamic producer locally
- Connections to local customers
- Willingness to co-invest in the business
Who we’re looking for
The ideal person(s) for this opportunity has:
- Buy-in to biodynamic farming and desire to continue farming similarly
- A good level of organic and/or biodynamic farming experience
- An entrepreneurial spirit, willing & able to build a small team if needed
- Enough business acumen to run commercial farm enterprises and sell
- Good, clear communication with transparency and honesty
- A deep passion for nature and high animal welfare
- Someone fun, who treats others as equals and with respect
Could this be you?
Photos from the farm
