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

Nicky Scott’s green roof
Chagford
A meadow on a roof, inspired by those found on wooden cabins in Norway.


Jackie Parsons and Joe Kelly
Holne
A smallholding with a late summer species-rich meadow, used by ewes and lambs and much other wildlife.

Nicky Scott
Pound Meadow, Chagford
A four and a half acre community meadow in Chagford, previously grazed by sheep, now managed for its wildflowers and wildlife.