ORGANIC
We are certified organic by the Soil Association so we don’t use any chemicals on our pasture, arable and market garden. Synthetic fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides are damaging to soil, water, biodiversity and the environment. We rotate different crops around our land and grow fertility building plants including legumes which naturally fix nitrogen, cover crops to outcompete weeds and wildflowers to support beneficial insects.
REGENERATIVE
We want to put back more than we take out from our land, starting with soil. Healthy soil is alive with biology and fungal networks; it has a crumb-like structure with space for air and water, soaking up rain like a sponge and storing it for dry periods. We grow a diverse range of plants, each with a different root system, feeding soil biology as well as livestock. We mob graze our cattle, give plants time to rest & regrow and disturb the soil as little as possible.
PASTURE FOR LIFE
Our Hereford cattle are certified by Pasture for Life as 100% pasture-fed, grazing grasses, herbs, legumes, wildflowers, trees and hedges outside all year round. They live healthy lives with minimal stress and need very little veterinary care or antibiotics. Cattle are ruminants; they have a microbial stomach designed to digest and extract nutrients from foraged plants, not grain.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
When organic and regenerative farming principles are followed there is potential to draw down carbon into the soil, which will slow and reverse climate change. Our approach includes diverse crops, reduced tillage, composting, holistic grazing and crop rotation to encourage photosynthesis and active soil biology which will increase the amount of carbon we store in our soil. This approach builds healthy soil, plants, livestock, people and planet.
Annie Landless
Annie oversees the farm and market garden, splitting her time between the fields and farm office. She is passionate about grass-fed cattle, mob grazing, soil health, biodiversity, population grains and good food. Annie manages the team as well as relationships with mills, butchers, brewers and restaurants.
Harry Samuel
Harry is our stock person, he keeps a close eye on our cattle day-to-day and is planning a new woodland pig enterprise for the farm. Harry's an experienced woodland worker, leading our woodland and hedgerow management across the farm. He also teaches green woodworking, including spoon carving.
Lucy Bowles-Lewis
Lucy is our lead grower in the market garden, producing a variety of fruit, veg and flowers using the no-dig method. Lucy has a background in environmental conservation and volunteer management but retrained in horticulture after realising that going to the allotment was the best part of her day!
Beneeta Jacob
Beneeta came to us as a passionate volunteer while studying agriculture at the RAU. She graduated and joined us as a part-time Assistant Grower in the market garden. She is dedicated to organic farming and a keen entomologist, often found closely examining weird and wonderful invertebrates.
Laurence Burge
Laurence started out as an enthusiastic volunteer with us and has since officially joined the team as an Assistant Grower. He's shown great commitment to the market garden and learning about growing fruit and veg using Charles Dowding's no-dig method.
Tony Norris
Tony has been involved with the farm since the 80s and has extensive experience teaching students about farming at the RAU in Cirencester. He supports the team in an advisory capacity, helping with operations and sharing his knowledge of the land.
Götz Bechtolsheimer
Götz and his family bought the farm in 2020; they have lived close by in Ampney St Peter for many years. Götz’s vision for the farm is to work with nature, taking a regenerative approach on the farm to build biodiversity, soil health, water and air quality while producing healthy food.
Ilona Ellis
Ilona works closely with Götz and the team, expertly and efficiently supporting the day-to-day running of the farm office. Ilona is a keen gardener herself and spends her free time tending to her flowerbeds and cooking up delicious meals from scratch.
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