Julie Palmer
Bradworthy, Devon
A working farm where the flora and fauna are nurtured
Field Irish Farm is a 120 acre farm that was passed to me after my uncle’s death in 2019, with the promise that the farm would carry on and the flora and fauna would continue to be nurtured.

The meadows we have are original pre war meadows, full of wildflowers. Hedges are allowed to grow with large overhanging trees used as shelter for the cattle and wild deer. In the summer the noise from insects and birds is amazing

We have a herd of pedigree belted galloway and riggit cattle which we use for conservation grazing. No fertilisers, or chemicals are used and fields are not cut until seed heads have dried. Old machinery has been brought back into use and the size means that we can keep soil compaction to a minimum. We intend to show that old ways of farming can still work and produce outstanding quality meat without harming the natural environment.

Other "Me and my Meadow" stories

Shira Rüb and Richard Lemon
Lower Ashton, Devon
A former pony paddock, now with over 108 species of plants recorded

Geoff Hearnden
Carrapitt Farm, Bridford
A working farm that has evolved over 40 years into a nature reserve, including turning ten acres of agriculturally improved rough grassland into a species-rich wet meadow.

John and Katharine Milverton
Hittisleigh, Exeter
Hittisleigh Barton Woods and Meadows Project, Exeter. Bringing 143 acres into the best condition possible for wildlife

Rebecca and Chris Gethin
Higher Pudsham, Buckland-in-the-Moor
A former pony and goat paddock is now a wildlife sanctuary.