Not Just A Buzz Word: Nature-friendly farming (often also called sustainable, regenerative or eco-friendly farming) is essentially farming in a manner that cooperates and works with nature – rather than against it. As first-generation tenant farmers, farming upland land, it Read More
Preserving Traditional Hay Meadows Did you know that only 3% of the UK’s traditional hay meadows remain? Many of these rare and precious habitats survive in upland areas such as the Peak District National Park. During and after the Second Read More
Here at Bernard’s Farm we use conservation grazing to care and steward traditional hay meadows and species-rich grasslands on and around our upland tenant farm in the Staffordshire Moorlands, to serve our local community with nutrient-dense food, combined with preserving Read More
We run a closed herd of native breed suckler cattle on upland rented ground in Leek, Staffordshire Moorlands. Our journey into cattle started with calves; Ma began by bringing home dairy-bred bull calves from the dairy farms she worked on Read More
Here at Bernard’s Farm we run a closed, pedigree flock of Coloured Ryeland and Ryeland sheep; Bernard’s Farm Coloured Ryelands (black) and Barbara’s Farm Ryelands (white). We started out by rearing wethers (castrated male lambs) for meat boxes, and Read More
A sad day A very sad day at Bernard’s Farm this week. We have had to bury Bernard’s beloved tortoise. Never a young boy cared for a tortoise like Bernard cared for his tortoise. He did everything for them independently, Read More
A home for hens This time last year we rehomed over 80 ex-battery hens on their way to slaughter after being considered “no longer commercially viable” by intensive egg laying units. Hens continue to be kept in cages, on colony Read More
Mental health and me I’m not ashamed to say I’ve done battle with mental health. But basically, anxiety & OCD are my demons. And I’m not talking cleaning door handles & alphabetical CD organisation when I say OCD. I mean Read More
Our Sheep We run a flock of rare breed Coloured Ryeland Sheep on our rented land. Ryeland (white sheep) and Coloured Ryeland (Brown sheep) are one of England’s oldest sheep breeds, going back seven centuries when they were used by Read More
Our Pigs Our pigs are Oxford Sandy and Black Pigs, a breed listed as rare and endangered by the Rare Breed Survival Trust. They are one of the oldest, traditional English breed of pig, originating in Oxfordshire, having been around Read More
