Our Farming Team
Our Farming Team is a blend of agricultural expertise and cutting-edge conservation science, managing both livestock and ecosystems. By balancing the needs of cattle herds with the health of the soil, we are proving that productive land can be the best it for wildlife.
Wiltshire is a large county and our Team work across vast diverse terrains, requiring a strategic split between our North and South Farming Hubs based at Blakehill in the north and Coombe Bissett Down in the south. Each member of the team, regardless of which farm unit they are based at, is able to cover all the different tasks required – vital skills when the operation is entirely in-house. Our Team share the daily responsibilities of calving and lambing, while tailoring our livestock management to what the ground can handle.
The North
Our Reserves in the north of the county tend to be of a heavier type of land. This ground can be more robust during the summer and will support a larger breed of cattle, but can turn wet and harder to manage during the winter months. Here a greater focus can be placed on livestock efficiency while still achieving our reserve management objectives.
The South
In the south of the county we manage a mosaic of smaller, more sensitive sites and delicate, south-facing banks. To manage this landscape without leaving a heavy footprint, we adapt our approach by using lighter cattle to graze, as they move easier on the terrain and cause less ground damage.
The Winter Sheep Shift
During the winter months, the Farm Team switch to using sheep as the primary grazing animal. Sheep are light and agile so are less likely to damage even the most sensitive of our reserves, while at the same time continuing with the grazing program – tidying up the reserves, eating off any winter growth and keeping scrub growth in check.
Sheep at Coombe Bissett Down
The Animals
Every animal in our enterprise is selected with two strict jobs in mind: they must create excellent commercial value for the farming business, and they must have the right grazing habits to restore the land.
Belted Galloways
Instantly recognisable by their iconic white belts, our Belted Galloways are the ultimate wetland and fenland specialists. Often found on our northern reserves, they thrive on coarser vegetation and wetter soils where other breeds might struggle. They do a magnificent job of trampling dominant reeds and opening fen habitats, making them a vital tool for our most sensitive water meadows.
Beef Shorthorns
Our Beef Shorthorns are a premium commercial asset. They produce highly saleable, sought-after beef that delivers strong market returns, all the while providing the essential, low-intensity grazing needed to manage our reserves.
Herdwick Sheep
Known for their somewhat amused smiling faces, our flock of 60 Herdwick ewes are our go-to choice for managing challenging or nutrient-poor grasslands. Originally built for the fells, they are excellent foragers that will happily munch on woody plants, gorse, and tough grasses that other sheep turn their noses up at. Their presence allows us to keep delicate swards open and diverse.
Herdwick Sheep at Langford Lakes
To add a more commercial aspect to the sheep flock, a number of the Herdwick ewes are mated to Charolais X Texel rams to produce lambs fit for the local livestock markets. The income from these more desirable lambs help to support the commercial side of the farming operation and show how conservation and farming can work side-by-side.
Making Farming Work for Conservation
By running a smart, mixed-livestock business, we prove that conservation doesn't have to operate at a loss. Selling what we sow allows us to offset management costs and generate self-sustaining returns. We are proud to show that high-standard agricultural production and thriving biodiversity can go hand-in-hand.