Our Farming Principles

Farming with Nature

We aim to farm with nature, respecting flora, fauna, landscape, heritage, air, soil and water. Our system is low input and carbon neutral. Although commercially smart, livestock numbers and crop yields do not drive us. Our mission is to build a resilient ecosystem and a thriving farm business that serves our local community.

Over the last 20 years we have planted over 12,000 trees; restored orchid rich wildflower grasslands, hedges and dry stone walls; and created new areas of scrub. We have a 7ha bumble bird plot managed just for wildlife.

Conygree is a haven for many species of farmland bird, some of which are in decline in the UK. We have breeding Corn Bunting, Linnet and Skylark, and Barn Owls are regularly seen hunting over our field margins and rough grass. Buzzards, Sparrowhawks, Kestrals and Red Kites are common, and a Hobby is close by. The elusive Quail can be heard in the summer and we recently counted over 20 Woodcock feeding on soil invertebrates in one of our fields at night.

Regenerative Agriculture

While sustainability (protecting what we have today for tomorrow) is at the heart of what we do, we believe we most go further. Our food system is depletive and our natural environment is on its knees. The climate crisis is upon us.

We must therefore, rebuild, enhance, improve, revitalise and reconnect. We must regenerate our soils and biodiversity, and the water and nutrient cycle. Deep regeneration enhances our landscape and communities too.

Done well and at scale, regenerative agriculture can help us move to net zero and feed the nation.

The principles and practices of regenerative agriculture are important to us here at Conygree.

Agroecology

Agroecology is a holistic approach that applies ecological and social principles to the design and management of food and agricultural systems. It seeks to minimise external inputs and optimises interactions between plants, animals, humans and the wider environment.

In simple terms it's about farming WITH nature (not FOR nature) and people. It's about synergy, diversity, efficiency and circularity. It consider soil health and animal welfare, as well as knowledge, local governance, justice and food culture.

Agroecology is well researched and is relevant across the globe, and it's our touchstone at Conygree.

You can read about the 13 principles of agroecology here

Organic Mixed Farming

Organic mixed farming is great for wildlife, soil, livestock and the food that we eat. Diversity of crop, stock, rotation, enterprise and habitat is key. An organic regenerative approach is our ultimate goal.

Organic farmers don't use GM or soya based feeds, artificial fertilisers or pesticides, and only use vaccines and antibiotics when necessary. Long rotations and perennial cropping (using, for example, diverse herbal leys) mean we don't have to plough every year, building soil health and locking in carbon. Grazing livestock provides us with farm yard manure (fertiliser!) which is good for insect life and the soil food web.

Conygree is accredited by Organic Farmers & Growers.

Pasture for Life

Our native breed cattle and sheep eat a natural diet of grass, herbs and wildflowers, and they enjoy nibbling at hedges and trees too. No concentrate feed, cereal or soya is used. They thrive outdoors all year round and calve/lamb in the spring sunshine.

Our pastures contain over 100 different plant species which is great for our animals’ natural ‘salad bar’ diet, soil health and wildlife. They munch on diverse herbal leys (temporary grass) full of medicinal plants such as birds foot trefoil, chicory, plantain and sainfoin.

Pasture fed meat (100% grass fed) is more nutrient dense than grain fed meat, with:

Lower total fat levels
Higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
Higher vitamin and mineral levels
Higher levels of Omega-3

Conygree is an accredited Pasture for Life farm.