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 The
farmstead at Hele dates from 1780 and ancestors of the Steer family have
farmed the land from that time.
Hele Farm's organic practices make it a haven for wildlife. The
younger members f the family have successfully reared both grey and red
legged partridge into the wild. Mallard ducks breed successfully
on the wild ponds as do moorhen.
Through the woods which end at the River Tamar, during the season,
nightjars and nightingales can be heard, kingfisher can also be
glimpsed. The family keep a record of the many different songbird
to be seen. Swallows, swifts and house martins return year after
year to nest in the farm buildings. The woods are home to many
different owls and barn owls can be seen in the twilight hunting the
hedgerows. Deer, foxes and badgers abound.
 There
is about an hour walk from the farm which takes in woodland and
farmland. Dogs are welcome on this walk but must be kept on a lead
at all times.
 Doomsday and Medieval place name evidence indicates that there was a
medieval settlement at Hele. Mining activity commenced in the
vicinity of the Devon Great Consols Mine in 1198.
The Devon Great Consols Mine was the last great copper mine in the West
of England and for twenty years (1845-1865) was the richest in Europe.
There are many remains of the mine's heyday to be seen and plans are
well on to make it a World Heritage Site.
Mines or "Wheals" as they were referred to in bygone days were normally
named after a member of the Mine Captain's family.
        
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Hele
Farm
