The farm came later, and Oliver's father became tenant in 1954. He bought it in 1968, together with The Towers and The Aviaries, when the estate was sold. The Towers are listed and need about 100,000 to restore them and protect their future for the next fifty years. Grant aid for such restoration work is meagre. Most must be funded through farming profitably.
All soils are quite thin.
Topsoil rarely exceeds 15cm, except on 88 hectares of recently rented Grade 2 and 1 land. They entered conversion status immediately, to become fully organic by March 1999. 69.3 hectares was taken on in March 1998 for 5 years. Due to organically acceptable previous management, it will be deemed fully organic by April 1999. A further block of 90.2 hectares was taken on for 5 years from October 1998.