Our Farm
Weston Park Farms aims to produce nutritious combinable crops and healthy livestock without tillage whilst minimising inputs, encouraging biodiversity on the land and creating opportunities with diverse enterprises.
We have been farming the land here in Weston for over 35 years and a lot has changed in that time. For many years we ran a heavy tillage-based system, however after visiting America in 2010 and meeting several passionate no-till growers, farm manager John was inspired to drop cultivations and go no-till (a change supported by his deep dislike for bouncing around in bumpy tractors). Since adopting no-till we have noticed a dramatic change in the land, with improved soil structure, reduced erosion, and greater biodiversity - all whilst slashing work hours and fuel consumption! This transformative change inspired our transition to regenerative agriculture…
The farm consists of arable land, permanent pastures, and woodland. We grow a range of crops; wheat, barley, oats, beans, and linseed, plus species-rich cover crops whenever possible (particularly over winter). Herbal grass leys are integrated into the rotation which, alongside our parkland pastures, are mob grazed by our ‘Pasture for Life’ shorthorn-cross beef suckler herd. We also harvest timber from our woodland for use in the three biomass boilers on the estate, which helps us to be a more circular, sustainable farm. For more see Our Principles.
As part of our long-term mission to spread the regenerative agriculture movement, the farm is currently establishing Groundschool, which will offer year-round courses on various aspects of regenerative agriculture, using on-farm enterprises as working examples. We envision the regenerative agriculture movement spreading like a web of mycelia, with every collaboration, knowledge exchange, and inspired individual contributing to its momentum.
Connecting people with the land is an important part of our ethos and we are working hard to stack new enterprises on the farm… for example the local Blendery helped design our agroforestry fruit system for use in their experimental beer blends. Our new no-dig market garden Weston Park Veg produces seasonal veg for sale through the local farm shop, Lannock Larder. Plus, we’ve trialed pastured-poultry for three years now and are keen to find someone to scale it up. If you have a vision and would like to collaborate with us, please get in touch!
Our greatest achievement to date: founding and hosting Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture Festival, which attracts a worldwide audience of people, farmers, and scientists to discuss one of the most pressing debates of our time.