Houghton Springs Trout Farm is a hatchery, fingerling and table facility situated very close to the head of the River Winterbourne, a transient stream characteristic to the region, flowing only during the winter months.
The Winterborne is a tributary of the Dorset Stour.
The head springs of the river (many of which are within the farm site) generally flow from December to April/ May.
Houghton Springs Trout Farm covers 3.2 Acres and makes the most of the fresh water from the Winterborne River and aquifer with 18 artisan wells/bore holes across the site with water flowing into the ponds.
The wells/bore holes provide the farm with a consistent, continuous and stable water supply, with water at a constant temperature of 10 to 11 degrees and free from the pollutants usually found in surface water. This is further bolstered by the farm’s position at the bottom of an unspoilt valley.
Throughout the growth process, fresh water is constantly flowing through the ponds, the hatchery uses a recirculating aquatic system, that recycles and reuses the water after filtering it and treating it to maintain the best suitable environment for the fry, if necessary injected with more oxygen to keep the fish at the perfect temperature and in the best conditions for growth, health and optimum taste.
Our fish are health checked by external examiners CEFAS.
The Environmental Agency monitor our water quality.
