If you've found us after seeing our website or watching our farm on Countryfile, you might be wondering whether a more natural, ethical way of pasture-fed farming is something you could do too. You might be wondering whether it's really possible, and whether you could do it.

We have been farming for nearly 20 years and have developed a model for ethical, environmentally friendly farming - putting animals and the environment first, in a way that is sustainable.

When we set out to farm this way, there wasn't really a roadmap. We learned as we went, made mistakes, and slowly built something we're proud of.  We want to share what we've learned, because more farms like ours would be a good thing for the land, the animals, and the people who consume what we produce.

We’re very happy to talk on the phone or show people around the farm. What we can provide is an insight into how we do things. The main thing we want to offer is confidence - that this way of farming is possible, manageable, and genuinely rewarding.

It has generated a lot of interest, including a visit from Adam Henson, who came to film our farm for Countryfile.

We have shared what we do with a number of other farms locally who were interested in following a similar approach. They’ve gone on to develop their own versions of this model.

This type of ethical, environmentally friendly farming gets a huge stamp of approval from our customers. Our way of farming is so sought after we are unable to meet the demand. Customers clearly want 100% pasture-fed ethically produced meat!

Our farming model uses native breeds raised in a suckler herd system, ie our cows raise their own calves, who suckle milk directly from their mothers for 6-12 months until weaning. Our cows eat nothing but grass and are managed in a way that provides a habitat for the best possible range of wildlife.

Core Principles

• 100% pasture-fed cattle - no grain or concentrates.

• Organic and chemical free. Some farms choose formal certification; others follow the principles without it. Both approaches can work. In our Peak Pasture Farms model, Ravensnest Farm is fully certified with the Soil Association. Westwood Farm is not certified, but upholds exactly the same values and standards. You can farm organically in practice without being certified - as Westwood Farm demonstrates. Some people choose only Soil Association Organic certified beef from Ravensnest, others don't mind and are happy with either.

• We farm with native Belted Galloway cattle because they suit the land - they’re hardy, adaptable, able to thrive on grass alone and they do well on a simple, low-input system. We have small herd sizes to avoid overgrazing. Our system can work with any hardy native breed however, such as Longhorn and Highland cows.

• Temperament matters too - the way we raise our cows result in calm cattle. They are safer, easier to work with, and less stressed.

• Our cattle live outdoors all year round and don’t need housing, as they are hardy native breeds. This helps reduce labour and costs, while also giving them a more natural way of life.

Land Management

We create and manage diverse pasture, full of wildflowers and native grasses. We use no artificial fertilisers, pesticides, or herbicides.

Our method of farming is compatible with creating the best possible biodiversity, not just in set-aside corners, but across the whole farm. You can't farm this way without caring about all of it. We are always looking for additional opportunities to create new habitats: planting hedges, creating ponds, developing wood pasture. We often see butterflies, bumblebees, barn owls, lapwings, skylarks, kestrels, buzzards, hedgehogs, frogs, newts and dragonflies.

Animal Welfare

Animal welfare is paramount to our way of farming. We have consciously developed systems that results in the least stress for animals. Calves stay with their mum for at least the first six months of their life, and then we have a particular gentle way of weaning them that works really well for everyone. We use low-stress handling methods for all our interventions, with minimal intervention where possible.

Where Our Cattle Go

When our cattle are fully grown, pedigree females not needed for our own farm are sold to other ethical breeders as foundation animals for other herds. There is a high demand for the females which allows us to be very selective in which farms we sell them to.

The males continue naturally and slowly maturing by grazing on our pastures. We don't take them to slaughter until they are fully grown. The beef from them is sold directly from the farm as 100% grass-fed native breed beef.

Additional things we do

We run regular school visits. Not only is it a great way of bringing in extra income, it is also highly rewarding. We love inspiring future generations about nature and wildlife. The children who come from the schools often tell us it's one of the highlights of their year.

Commercial farming can be demanding, and for some farmers it can start to feel like constant pressure. If you’re working harder every year but not seeing the returns to match, it can be worth considering whether a different system could work better for you.

Moving to a pasture-fed, organic system can take some of the pressure off - fewer inputs, simpler systems, and a product with strong customer demand. Instead of constantly pushing harder, you’re working with the land, building something that becomes more sustainable over time.

Farming this way changes how you experience your livestock and your land. The cattle are calmer, easier to handle, and you build a different kind of relationship with them. Systems are simpler, and the day-to-day work can feel more rewarding.  You’re not chasing yields in the same way, and you’re not tied into the same costs for feed, fertiliser or continual intervention. Over time, the system starts to carry itself more. You start to notice the land improving, with more wildlife and better pasture. The farm itself comes to life and wildlife tends to come back. Barn owls at dusk, and the return of butterflies, bumblebees, skylarks and other wildlife through the seasons.

It’s still farming. It still takes thought, commitment and effort. Most people who switch don’t do it overnight. It’s gradual. But once it’s running, it tends to feel like a different rhythm of farming altogether - and often a more sustainable one.