Butterlope Farm

Butterlope Farm offers Social Farming and training opportunities for adults with support needs. We also deliver outdoor education programmes.

Butterlope Farm is located 2 miles from the village of Plumbridge in the beautiful Glenelly Valley at the heart of the Sperrins. The farm is owned and managed by Annie and Vincent Mullan. With 128 acres of farm, the Mullan family care for more than 300 hundred sheep, 15 hens, rooster and chicks as well as Belle the family sheepdog. As a Social Farm we provide an alternative to those in need of social care. Participants can join with farm, wildlife and horticultural activities.
Vincent has been sheep farming for more than 20 years and before that helped on his father’s farm. Coming to Butterlope Farm gives participants the opportunity to learn how to care for sheep including lambing, herding, shearing, and caring for any ailments or problems they have. All activities are thoroughly risk managed and delivered at the participants pace. Other farming activities include feeding and caring for the poultry, collecting eggs, and helping to maintain the farm habitats and structures. This could range from dry stone walling to fencing and woodwork projects. A workshop allows the majority of items such as feeders, hen boxes, bird boxes and gates to be produced on the farm. The small kitchen garden and greenhouses provide opportunities for horticulture activities such as vegetable and fruit growing.
In addition, Butterlope Farm participants have the opportunity to enjoy and learn about the environment and the richness of our beautiful countryside. Annie has worked as a wildlife education officer for 20 years and will guide participants in exploring and learning about the streams, hedgerows, heathlands, butterflies, birds and wildflowers of the farm. They will be involved in recording and monitoring of these to ensure our management practices continues to have a positive effect on farm wildlife.