Producing premium beef and supporting nature at Bubnell Cliff Farm

Bubnell Cliff Farm is a 120 hectare tenanted family farm on the Chatsworth Estate, with an exciting future, as a new generation of farmer sets about transforming the landscape. The current tenant took over the farm in 2021 from his father, and ended 2023 with a bang by giving up his part time job to become a full time farmer.

The aim is to introduce regenerative farming techniques that work for the family, the farm and the herd of pedigree longhorn cattle, which supply meat boxes sold directly to the public as well as to local pubs. The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme has funded in-field trees, hedgerows planted on the line of historic boundaries, the establishment of herbal leys and grants to support rotational grazing.

2023 saw the start of the next phase of works, with over a third of the farm being developed into wood pasture, including former silage fields, which will link up areas of ancient woodland. The longhorns have already been grazing on existing hawthorn scrub, a good sign that they’ll do well in the new wood pasture, which is being supported through a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreement.

“Cows are natural foragers and given the opportunity they will graze on a wide variety of plants and trees, which is why they are ideal to support the development of woodland pasture here at Bubnell Cliff Farm. This is the perfect landscape to allow cows to exhibit their natural grazing habits and also produce great tasting sustainably produced beef.”

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