Farm manager and local legend Tony has spent much of his farming career working and managing this land, owned by the Royal Agricultural University from 1988 through to 2020. The entire farm is now certified organic and combines livestock and arable rotations to build soil fertility. Farm owner, Götz, is passionate about enhancing biodiversity on the farm and is investing in extensive surveys and observations to quantify and demonstrate improvements. Annie has joined the team to support Tony with running the farm and sell all the produce direct and/or locally.

The farm actively creates and maintains as diverse a range of habitats as possible. From ponds, woodland, wildlife corridors and permanent pasture, to herbal leys, bird feeding and flower margins as well as standing dead oaks. It would be difficult to find a better example of farming in harmony with nature! The team are actively auditing their biodiversity and we will provide updates on this shortly.

The farm is home to a herd of traditional Hereford cattle that are well loved by all at the farm. The high health status herd was sourced from organic farmer Simon Cutter at Model Farm. With 26+ years of Simon’s selective breeding the cows are calm and chilled and well suited to a 100% pasture diet.

The cows have access to pasture all year round, with consistent access to a barn, or natural shelter under trees or hedges, during the colder months, with plenty of farm grown hay offered in the winter. There is no expense spared, including of thought and effort, in ensuring the cows have the healthiest and most stress free lifestyle as possible.

This truly is a unique farm, with an inspiring team and owners that are making exceptional things possible.

Tony taught at the Royal Agricultural University for years and still keeps abreast of all the latest farming methods. He practised strip grazing back in the 70’s and has always been willing to explore what works best. Currently Tony is planning on separating fields to conduct experiments on which practices, crops and rotations improve soil health the most. He says he has always made his job far more difficult than it needs to be – but with years of educating, practising and leading the way – he is not about to stop now.

The farm Owners Götz Bechtolsheimer and his family are supporting the team every step of the way and have already enabled a full organic conversion of the farm and lots of positive action.

Annie Landless joined the farm to support Tony and other members of the team, but also to help monitor soils with her work with soil mentor. She has noted that the most lively soils are those in the herbal leys and dreams of seeing the soil wriggling and exploding with life all over the farm.

The farm also has a market garden, from which is supplies fresh organic produce locally. The arable focus is on producing heritage grain and this will be a key part of the farms resilience going forward.