DHF News: June 2026

Spring has arrived at Dennington—and it feels all the more welcome after a long winter. The days are stretching out, the light has changed, and the land is beginning to wake up again. It’s a hopeful time of year, but also a quietly uncertain one in farming. You may have noticed the blackthorn blossom in the hedgerows. There’s an old saying about a “blackthorn winter”—a reminder that even as it feels like spring, a cold snap can still catch us out. It’s a good example of how quickly conditions can change—and why how we manage the land really matters.

After last year’s dry spring, we’re focusing on looking after our soils, disturbing them as little as possible to retain moisture and build resilience for whatever the season brings. In contrast, a wet spring brings different challenges, particularly disease. We’re excited to be working with Optigene, using new DNA technology on the farm to detect disease earlier in the crops and manage it more precisely.

At the same time, global events are having an impact too. Rising diesel and fertiliser prices—linked to ongoing conflict in the Middle East—are a reminder of how connected farming is to the wider world.

Elsewhere, new life is arriving. Calving has begun, with this year’s calves all named with a “Q”—no easy task! So please feel free to share any suggestions for names beginning with Q.

We’ve also planted over a mile of new hedging and trees to 400 support wildlife and the landscape.

Finally, a date for your diaries: Open Farm Sunday is on 7th June—we’d love to welcome you.

And thank you, as always, for your support of our meat boxes—it means a great deal. If you’re out walking the footpaths, we hope you enjoy seeing the farm change through the season.

With warm wishes from us all

Laura Rous

Dennington Hall Farms