Near Historic battle ground.

The Battle of Bosworth or Bosworth Field was an important battle during the Wars of the Roses in 15thcentury England. The armies of Richard III and Henry Tudor faced each other on Ambion Hill. The battle that followed - Richard’s last stand in the Wars of the Roses - gave England a new king and saw the end of the medieval period. The Battle ofBosworth, fought on the 22nd August 1485, was one of the best known and most influential of English battles. A rebel force defeated a royal army more than twice its size leaving Richard III, the last Plantagenet king, dead on the field and placing Henry VII on the throne as the first of a new, Tudor dynasty.

The Farm and surroundings.
Osbaston House Farm is on the edge of The National Forest. Embracing 200 square miles of the Midlands, the National Forest has taken root in the heart of England across parts of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire. It links the two ancient Forests of Charnwood and Needwood Forest in the heart of the Leicestershire countryside. Two miles from the farm, along pretty countryside lanes, lies the vibrant market town of Market Bosworth which is surrounded by many of Leicestershire's pretty villages and its rolling countryside. Market Bosworth, was recorded in the Domesday Book and has been an important market townsince the middle ages. Located only 8 miles off the M1, Osbaston House Farm is very easily accessible and lays just 90 minutes from London and not more than an hour from the major cities of Birmingham and Nottingham.

The Farming at Osbaston Farm.
A small, 160 acre farm nestled on the edge of the National Forest in Leicestershire. The fifth generation of Earp’s, dating back to 1908, John, is todays Farmer. Historically, a traditional dairy farm with a herd of 50 Friesians cows as well as a small beef and sheep herd. In 2002, the farm successfully diversified to become one of a handful of specialist goat farmers in the UK. We milk approximately 600 goats, early in the morning and mid afternoon; the farm also has a handful of beef cattle, 150 breeding sheep and a flock of free-range hens. We grow our own wheat and maize crops with 5 acres of ground purely dedicated to wild bird cover. We have approximately 30 bird nesting boxes as well as a number of luxury barn owl ‘houses’. We actively support birdlife and are members of the RSPB Volunteer & Farmer Alliance. We have several species on the farm which fall into the ‘high conservation of concern’ category; linnet, reed bunting, skylark, song thrush and yellow hammer. Buzzards, hawks, tawny and barn owls are also resident on the farm. The swallows return home to the farm every year to breed.

The Goats
The most important part of the farm is the goats. A characterful bunch, they are all bred from the best of three breeds: British Saanen, British Toggenburg and British Alpine. Goats are very affectionate and intelligent animals. The goats are endearing and

inquisitive animals and their health and well-being is our number one priority. Well fed, contented goats reward us with delicious tasting, mild flavoured milk. We have approximately 600 adult goats who produce the tasty, delicious, high quality milk for us. Throughout the year we rear approximately 100 kids, caring affectionately for themfrom a few days old until they reach their playful, teenage stage at 8 weeks old. At 8 weeks they are energetic, mischievous and thrive with their friends in small groups, living together in the special teenage housing area until they are 9 months old. We have roughly 200 teenagers throughout the year. The goats live in specially designed buildings which offer ample natural daylight and fresh air. They are fed a nutritionally balanced fibre-rich diet based on maize and red clover that we grow on the fields surrounding the farm. We have a small pedigree herd of hard working male, Billy goats. We are often asked why Billy goats smell like old socks, it’s because they have musk glands behind their horns to make the girls chase after them!

The Osbaston House Farm Family.
You recieve a warm welcome on Osbaston House Farm from John (5th generation farmer here) and Sharon Earp together withtheir two Labrador house dogs and, on
average 35 'kids' and 75 'teenagers', whichyoung milking goats are referered to as.

The location of the Feather Down Tents.
At the heart of the farm, is Spinney Meadow, it’s a heavenly location for thefeather down tents; each morning you’ll wake up and be greeted by the soundsof nature and the glorious views of open countryside; in the distance you’ll spot the spire of St Peter’s church at Market Bosworth.

Pets allowed.
Pets are welcome, but please keep them under close control near livestock.

Special on Osbaston Farm.
The Earp family are passionate about their 'Goat' farming. Visit the milking parlour on Osbaston House Farm and learn a lot about the British Saanen goats (i.e. goats really love contact with people), see them being milked and purchase goat milk products.

What’s more special at Osbaston House Farm?
Home to four gorgeous miniature Shetland ponies: Lottie, Lolly, Lulu and Autumn are all yearling fillies. Beside these youngsters Osbaston House is home to the mares Peaches and Milly and stallion Josh. They all adore attention and being groomed, no feeding or tit bits though!

Why not help out at kid feeding time? The goat ‘kids’ are adorable, help at feeding time by teaching the kids how to drink from the milk buckets. If you are interested in seeing adult goats being milked, then pop along to the parlour, morning or afternoon. And for the budding shepherds amongst you, there is the opportunity to be an assistant shepherd.