About Bishop’s Court Farm
History
Bishop’s Court Farm and the areas around Dorchester have a long, rich history stretching back thousands of years. We can see evidence of it everywhere – from the Iron Age Dyke Hills and Wittenham Clumps to the fragments of Roman pottery you can find in the allotments.
The first settlers were from the Stone Age, around 6000 years ago, and people have lived here continuously ever since, Iron Age people, Romans and Saxons. For a while Dorchester was even the capital of the Kingdom of Wessex, as a Wessex king was christened in the Thame by Saint Birinus. Who would have thought a small village could have so much fascinating history?
Our Ethos
We pride ourselves on doing our best for nature, from following organic farming practices, to planting new hedgerows, to producing our own electricity and heat. All of these help to reduce our carbon footprint, while promoting biodiversity and encouraging wildlife. We have also created new wetlands, and wildflower meadows, which act as habitats for many different creatures big and small. Having a diverse array of wildlife and keeping the farm healthy is very important to us.
The farm is full of life, some is obvious, while others only like to come out at night, or prefer to stay hidden. We allow access to many areas of the farm so that anyone can come and have a look, and often welcome twitchers who love to come see the birds using our wetland habitats!
Our Animals
We love our animals on the farm. We have sheep, alpacas, goats, horses, pigs, and a whole lot of bees. Keep an eye out for them as you wander around.
Farms are important across the world, they provide food, clothing materials, and can be beneficial for the environment and biodiversity if they are well managed. On our farm we harvest wool from the sheep and the alpacas, we also get honey from the bees, and meat from the pigs and sheep. We then sell these products in our farm cafe or trade them with other local farms and businesses, which contributes to the local economy.
Want to learn more about our animals?
Exciting news – July 29th 2026
Meet Our First Baby Alpaca!
This week has been extra special in the alpaca world, as we welcomed our very first baby alpaca! Our newest arrival has been delighting visitors, staff and Snug customers alike as she explores the field on her slightly wobbly legs. We’re already completely smitten and can’t wait for you to meet her.