Working Farm
Cumbria is home to some of Britain’s oldest farms and agricultural traditions and records show that there has been a farm on the Low Sizergh site since the 13th century. Once the home farm of the Sizergh estate providing food for the Strickland family, we now send dairy supplies made from our herd’s organic milk all over the county.
350 acres in total, Low Sizergh Farm is tenanted from the National Trust and home to 700 laying hens, 150 cows, 20 sheep, and a diverse range of wildlife. Run by Richard Park, the farm moved to organic practices as the new century dawned and is now working proof that good practice can lead to excellent productivity and enhanced animal welfare.
Our theory is simple, happy animals create a healthy yield. Which is why our 700 laying hens live in cabins in the fields near the farm and can often be found pecking for worms on the lane and in the car park.
Most of our 150 cows – Holsteins and Swedish Reds have been bred and reared by us. With their own rubber floored cubicles to sleep in, food, water supplies and scratching posts they enjoy wintering in the barn until the weather picks up.
We aim to connect the public with farming and food production and use many of the hundreds of eggs laid on a daily basis in our tearoom. You will also find dishes on the menu that are made with milk from the cows, vegetables that are wheeled in from the fields, and traditional fruits picked from the orchard.
Organic farming in action
As organic farmers we work to create wildlife habitats to benefit both the surrounding environment and our produce – trees and hedges are preserved to provide homes for birds, bats and beetles who thank us for our hospitality by feeding on the pests that damage our crops.
No chemical fertilisers or pesticides are used on the farm, which means no pollution of water, soil or food chains through residues. Instead we use clover leys to provide nitrogen for grass growth and employ methods such as crop rotation to help with weed control and build soil fertility. Recycled wastes like compost and farmyard manures also enrich the soil and encourage growth.
Our animals have access to fields, fresh air and a healthy diet that is free from routine drugs and food additives. Some of their feed is grown right here on the farm – wheat, peas and barley and red clover.
The reward for all of this work has been an increase in milk yield rather than the drop we had anticipated following the shift to organic farming. We hope you’ll enjoy your visit and approve of the legacy we will leave for future generations on this historic site.