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Timeline
First Steps
Many farms in the area are now large intensive arable units or desirable residences and hobby farms. Thankfully, the National Trust, upon reletting the farm, were keen to see Conygree remain and develop as a nature friendly mixed farm, providing a range of environmental, social and economic services.
Jonty won the tenancy in 2004 and with some trepidation took over that winter.
​Our aim was to develop Conygree as a low input and diverse farm that respected and enhanced our landscape, soil and wildlife habitat.
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As the farm has not been grazed by livestock for many years our first job was to tackle acres of thistle, reseed the majority of the arable areas back to species rich wild flower meadow and pasture, and to erect 6.5 miles of new fencing. We reared our first Cotswold sheep and Gloucester Old Spot pigs in 2006 and our first Hereford cows arrived in 2012, and we started selling everything from the door. Our first school visit was in 2009.
We married in 2011 and Mel joined the business as a joint tenant, and we converted to full organic status that year.
We won our first National Trust Fine Farm Food in 2012. Many more followed for our extra tasty beef, lamb and hogget. We became an accredited Pasture for Life farm in 2014 and every acre was entered in an agri-environment stewardship scheme.
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Jonty became a Nuffield Farming Scholar in 2015 travelling the world looking at sustainable farming and regenerative principles. This learning set the foundations for our second steps. ​​
Second Steps
​In 2017 we hosted the Springwatch team on the farm and wider estate for a whole season. We also won the National Trusts' Farming with Nature award. What a year!
2019 saw the launch of Cotswolds Under Canvas - our unique tipi events business based on the farm. We also joined forces with young grower, James Butterworth, and founded Cotswold Market Garden - a 2.5 acre organic growing enterprise supplying fresh vegetables and salads to our local community. We acquired our first bee hives and a bee keeper.
During the Covid years (2020/21) we opened our humble pop-up farm shop and planted 12,000 trees with a little help from friends!
Our inaugural Cotswold Market Garden plant sale was held in May 2023. Later in 2023 we made a simple education space in our old threshing barn so we could host more events and training courses, and we hosted the Emergent Generation youth network summer gathering at the farm. ​
In recognition of all our hard work, Jonty won the Russ Carrington award in 2024 for his services to Pasture for Life and the agroecological movement, and received the prestigious Nuffield Farming Bullock award for putting his scholarship learnings into practice over the last 10 years. ​​​
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What will the next 10 years bring?
The Future Challenge
The farming industry faces many challenges. We must produce more food with fewer resources in extreme weather, whilst at the same time, doing more for biodiversity, landscape and heritage. Farmers are also tasked with reducing their carbon footprint, providing more access and educational opportunities, and producing renewable energy.
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Amid these challenges we see opportunities due to increased consumer appreciation of local food, nutrient density, traditional breeds, high animal welfare and the environment.
We believe it is a good time to be involved in farming...but we will need consumer and government support more than ever!​​​​
