We have been building up the farm at West Hill, West Down, for 18 years. When Chris bought it in 1984 there were only two cattle sheds and 100 acres. We now farm 250 acres which are all fully organic, and another fifty acres of rented ground is starting the conversion process this year. West Hill Farm has light sandy soils which are ideal for growing grass and clover and are free draining enough to allow grazing most of the year. The soil will also support cereal crops as well as fodder beet, enabling us to feed the cows a balanced, home grown ration during the winter. The farm also enjoys magnificent views of the Bideford estuary round to Hartland Point and north to Woolacombe, a blessing in the summer, but exposed to the winter Atlantic gales.

We had a high yielding, pedigree herd of British Holsteins, which were in the top 5% of herds in Devon in 1996/97. Despite their popularity with commercial dairymen, Chris and Susi feel that this breed is not best suited to a traditional grazing based West Country farm, so now they are looking at some of the older native breeds, like Ayrshire and Dairy Shorthorn, to make up the milking herd.