Farms

Low Beckside Farm, Mungrisdale

Bought by the Trust in 2021, Low Beckside is the only farm we run entirely in-hand with Hector leading this thriving hub in the North. He works with Jon, Paige and Chloe who joined as part of our apprenticeship scheme, and is supported by our incredible Head of Learning, Operations & Partnerships, Vicki.

As well as being a self-sustaining sheep farm, we have belted galloways and a few pigs – which makes it a really enriching place to host our Outdoor Weeks of Learning and school visits.

Church Farm, Barnsley

Church Farm welcomes people outdoors in so many ways – through visits to the farm, where guests can meet the farmer, cows and calves, by walking the farm trail, and at Eloise’s agri-tourism business. Austin is the third generation of his family to farm at Church Farm, since his grandfather in 1952.

Today Austin supplies Marks & Spencers, producing milk to the highest standards of animal welfare, he is an M&S Environmental Indicator farmer, and he won the Farming with Nature award in 2022.

Leafield Farm, Fairford

Leafield has been farmed by the same family for an extraordinary 6 generations, going back far further than the Ernest Cook Trust itself. Today, they are a family-run mixed farming business, with a focus on high welfare livestock and both conventional and regenerative cropping. And the business is a great example of how farming feeds its local community – both literally and figuratively. From joint ventures with other local farm tenants, to their pedigree suckler herd that graze water meadows, parkland and multi-species herbal leys of 5 separate farms, and supporting the local biogas plant that produces renewable electricity for Fairford.

Milton Farm, Fairford

For many of us there is no better excuse to get outdoors than walking our dog, and Milton Farm offers a safe and accessible way to do that. Their secure enclosed dog field is a great example of the different ways our farm tenants look to make land and getting outdoors as accessible and welcoming for everyone as possible – as well as managing an arable and beef mixed farm.

Donkeywell Farm, Fairford

Organic arable farming can be challenging, but having held the tenancy for over 50 years, our farmers are well positioned to show how we can make farming profitable and sustainable for future generations.

Farhill Farm, Fairford

Another organic arable farm, Farhill works with local farmers’ livestock to graze fertility-building herbal leys.

Filkins Farm, Filkins

Descended from the creator of the Pink Lady apple, our tenants at Filkins Farm are very enviornmentally focused and engaged with wildlife. As well as operating an extensive continental beef herd.

Whaddon Hill Farm, Hartwell

Farmed by the same family since the Trust was founded in 1952, Whaddon Hill produces arable crops, and breeds and finishes beef cattle. These two enterprises complement each other and help create diversity on the farm – supported even more by Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and SFI schemes.

Macaroni Downs Farm, Hatherop

The rolling hills of Macaroni Downs are home to organic mixed livestock and it also works as an arable farm.

Glebe Farm, Hatherop

This family business has been with the Trust since 1970, and is a great example of the community of tenant farmers across our farms. Collaboration and joint ventures with immediate neighbours over the last 20 years have spread business risk, costs and grown shared potential to expand. As in nature, we know that we are often stronger and more stable together. And it means that Glebe Farm is now integrating the next generation into its business development and investment.

Home Farm, Hatherop

Part of a multi-generational tenancy, Home Farm produces forage-fed beef through regenerative grazing systems – focusing on high welfare production and regenerative grassland management. By incorporating herbal leys into their rotations, they can strengthen soil health and bring nutritional benefits to their livestock. Really excitingly, Home Farm is now planning to accommodate farm visits – to help others learn about the cyclical nature of our farming system, and the environmental benefits of regenerative systems.

Macaroni Farm, Hatherop

Macaroni Downs is a mixed farm with 250 cattle, 900 sheep and 800 acres of cereal farmland – but it also offers a tapestry of biodiversity and conservation. In 2009 it entered the Higher Level Stewardship agri-environmental scheme, and is now a patchwork of habitats from beetle banks to wildflower margins.

Eastleach Downs Organic Farm, Hatherop

Helen and Sam are first generation farmers and they work tirelessly to help inspire others to experience and learn from the land. They are also passionate about their own learning journey, as they converted the farm to organic and are now converting their pig herd to a native breed.

They see themselves as caretakers of the land, and have thoughtfully made their farm accessible and welcoming, with farm paths, a visitor hub and now a shepherd’s hut!

Manor Farm, Little Dalby

The Belcher family has been farming in Great Dalby since 1780 and they now run a mixed farm, breeding quality traditional and native livestock and crops. After their first selection of home-reared lamb, beef and pork was sold in a London market in 1999, they have been growing their home-reared quality produce business at March House Farm Shop. Since 2005 they’ve had an on-site butchery that supplies their farm shop and a cafe. Find out more about their livestock breeds, environmental credentials and seasonal events…

Wild’s Lodge Farm, Little Dalby

This small family-run dairy farm is better known as Brickfield, and it supplies the milk to local communities and the family’s thriving ice cream business! The cows are free to roam in spring and summer months on the grass fields that surround the Ferneley’s cafe. From home-cooked breakfasts at the cafe, to an ice cream while you sit and enjoy the views (plus play areas, local footpaths, cyclist accessibility and wheelchair access, and even dog ice cream) this family business is the perfect way for anyone to enjoy the outdoors and a connection to the land.

East Farm, Little Dalby

Tess and Tom have a passion for protecting and promoting the great British countryside and the best produce that British farming has to offer, and they specialise in sustainable, regenerative agriculture. The farm extends to 1400 acres, growing beef cattle, rare breed sheep and arable crops such as wheat, barley, beans, and oats. This family farm welcomes visitors to learn more about the land they are passionate about – through educational farm visits, overnights at their shepherd hut, farm to fork tours or foraging walkabouts.

Manor Farm, Little Dalby

Old Hurst Farm, Slimbridge

A busy conventional mixed farm including crop and livestock, Old Hurst Farm’s business includes beef production, winter wheat and barley, maize, haylage, hay and straw.

Hurst & Roses Farm, Slimbridge

Farming long-horn cattle, this farm also delivers quality hay, haylage and straw all year round – specifically grown and made for equestrian needs.

Billow Farm & Livery, Slimbridge

Slimbridge Farm, Slimbridge

A mixed farm that has been in the same family since the 1960s (our tenant’s father was originally a herdsman), Slimbridge Farm is now a mixed farm that produces milk, has pedigree holstein cows and aims to produce as much homegrown feed as possible.

Adey's Farm, Slimbridge

A 500-acre Organic livestock farm with a mix of permanent pasture, grass, clover and herbal leys, and wild flower meadows. Adey’s Organic produce is butchered on the farm and then sold both locally and on the wider market. They also run a Shepherd’s Hut business and there are plans to open the farm more, giving access for well-being and education opportunities.  All of these diversification plans help our tenants to continue farming using sustainable, regenerative methods and doing environmental capital works.

Gore Farm, Trent

Educational visits have been running at Gore Farm with local schools for many years – farm visits that help young people learn about food systems and farming, supported by outdoor learning in the woods at Gore Farm. Stuart is also a cattle breeder by trade and shares his knowledge and local connections with visiting school groups.

Barton Farm, Trent

Our tenants at Barton Farm are trying to balance sustainability with economic crop and livestock production and a turf production business. They believe the best chance of this lies in following the principles of regenerative agriculture where possible.

Hummer Farm, Trent

Arable farming in the heart of the Dorset countryside.

Church Farm, Trent

The Dorset countryside is the ideal place to get outdoors with your dog, and Muddy Paws Fields run by our tenants at Church Farm allows you to do just that!