Farming with Nature
Sustainable agritourism – working for nature
Crake Trees Manor is a traditional Westmorland holding that is made up of three small farms brought together in the 1960’s.
Flocks of birds lift up over the honey coloured farm.
We farm in an environmentally sensitive way, working to conservation standards. Being part of the Higher level Stewardship Scheme means we farm within European rules, which encourages wildlife to flourish and the soil structure to stay healthy.
We are creative and innovative, and try to farm with nature rather than against it. Local wildlife is encouraged through a wide range of projects. Our wetland project will help wildlife and also reduce flooding downstream.
The farm has a series of footpaths that allow visitors to see what is going on each season.
Producing food whilst working with nature
From the 1970’s, when we began our farming career, until the start of the new century Mike and I farmed Crake Trees in an intensive way.
Encouraged through “progressive thinking” and European subsidy our relatively small farm was running full speed just to stand still. Turnover and hard work did not equate into profit, or life satisfaction. Increasing the amount of fertiliser, crop spraying and processed animal feeds were turning our wonderful landscape into a factory farm.
Then Foot and mouth, the financial crisis of 2008, and also the fact that we were getting older ! We made quite radical decisions about our farming life. Lets not follow the crowd, but follow our deeper instinct instead.
We gradually started to Farm with Nature…not Against it.
Cutting back fertiliser to almost nil, slashing sheep numbers from over 1000 to under 100, stopping bull beef production for MacDonalds. A small herd of indigenous cattle, free range pigs, and a (very complicated) rotational system of grassland, crops and woodland quickly became our way of life.
Within a couple of years we were feeling the benefits. Our land breathed a sigh of relief, Mike became a happy farmer once agin. The road to sustainable farming is not simple, but its fulfilling and proving financially viable.
Also, for now, and for the future ….Farming with Nature sits comfortably with Sustainable Tourism, enabling Mike and myself to work together to a common purpose.
Wetland Management for Flooding and Wildlife
Working in partnership with the Eden River Trust and The Yorkshire Dales protected Landscape Project we have embarked on a major Flood mitigation, wildlife and wetlands scheme .
A series of 12 Ponds and Scrapes sweep through the farm. Together with creation of “beaver dams” on our small tributary becks these will slow the flow of water from the hillsides.
Helping natural flood management of towns and villages further down the Lyvennet, through the Eden valleys to the Solway.
The ponds will fill and drain through out the seasons. The scrapes are more seasonal. Both become a magnet and safe breeding area for loads of endangered birds, like curlew, peewit, snipe and woodcock and barn owl. Our small roe deer, hare, badger and otter as well as insects and amphibians that are more difficult to spot.
Nature Walks
Mike will be happy to take you on a walk around the farm.
We will explore the wildlife strips, farm woodlands and ponds.
He will talk about the farming seasons, the way our farm encourages birds and small animals to stay on the land, and the challenges of farming in Europe and outside the EEC.
You will see the reality of mixing wildlife and farm animals, a bit of life and probably death also!
We will discuss life in the countryside, local farming gossip and many questions can be answered.
Our Story
This is our family’s farm, it has been with us for generations. It is our home and we have filled it with love – our love of nature and of farming.
Many years ago, when we started having visitors stay, to encourage our guests to relax and enjoy our farm, the local community and our small part of beautiful Cumbria
Our children and grandchildren have grown up with guests from all over the globe, sharing experiences and friendship.
We run a working farm. Our commitment to providing good local food is as strong as our commitment to nature.
Our Ethos
We are passionate about farming with nature. Our landscape is deep in our bones and all that lives upon it is important to us. We are committed to providing space for wildlife, which is why you won’t see manicured grass around the camping pitches and why we allow space for nature all around our farm.
Rare breeds of sheep are fed on our wildflower rich meadows and indigenous Galloway and Blue Grey cattle can be seen grazing our land.
Since we married, we have planted over 3000 trees on our land, filling out our hedgerows, providing shelter belts to our stock and wildlife alike. We keep on moving forwards for wildlife and we are always looking for ways to increase opportunities for our local wildlife to thrive.
