POSITIVE VIBES WITH M & J OAKLEY
POSITIVE VIBES WITH M & J OAKLEY!
No challenge seems insurmountable for this family-owned business with strong agricultural roots.
Founded in 1991 and still owned by Mark and Jenny Oakley, the business went limited in 2012.
Harry Oakley, nephew of Mark and Jenny, took up the story: “We are a family run farm that specialises in fencing, hay and straw contracting as well as free range turkeys at Christmas.
Ryan Gane and myself focus on the fencing with Mark floating in and out between quoting on jobs and overseeing the smooth running of the business.
James Oakley, son of Mark and Jenny, loads the straw lorries as well as carrying out hay and straw deliveries. My mum runs the office and keeps the whole operation ticking over.
We also employ two seasonal staff for the hay and straw contracting and normally have two fencing teams out in the fields around Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire at any given time.
We turn our hand to all types of fencing but mainly it’s agricultural and equestrian. We also carry out domestic and security fencing as well as installing gates,” added Harry.
The business uses a range of trusted suppliers including Farm and Country, McVeigh Parker, Denne Engineering, Herts Timber of Letchworth and Holdens Tools.
When it comes to the heavy lifting there’s an array of machinery in use including the farm’s fleet of tractors.
Harry went on: “We run a Protech Evo 1, Wrag Diadem mounted knocker on a John Deere 6125r as well as a JCB Fastrac 4220 for moving machines and materials. There’s also a three tonne digger with Wrag Hector knocker that’s put to regular use alongside various augurs and attachments.
We operate a Solonetter and a Quickfencer. Both are brilliant machines in my view and substantially ease the daily workload.
2024 was a very good year for us with a number of new customers and plenty of fantastic projects completed. We started 2025 in the same vein and are busy as always with plenty of fence lines to get in.
Our biggest challenges are waiting on suppliers to get the stock in as well as getting the right staff in.
Finding people who want to graft and work outside in all conditions can be a challenge however we are extremely lucky with the staff we have who put 100% into everything we all do as a team.
I love the job satisfaction that fencing gives you and the little techniques you pick up along the way. We learn something new every day and it’s more than a job for me. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
I’m very lucky to be part of the family business and love the laughs we have at work. A bit of humour really helps when you’re out in the mud and rain on a dark January day.
We are lucky in that we get a constant stream of work through word of mouth and a loyal customer base that recognises the pride we take in everything we do.
I’m very proud of how we all get on as fencers around the country and will be attending our first AFI Best Practice day in April. It’s so good operating in an industry where everyone is trying to help each other out!” Harry concluded.
A bit of PMA clearly pays dividends for Harry and his team!
www.oakleyfarming.co.uk
07711376287
