Following the announcement of our transition to regenerative farming last September, we’re pleased to share the next exciting development in our journey toward full organic conversion within the next five years.

As part of this process, we are introducing pedigree cattle to graze our natural grasslands and herbal leys — a key element in restoring soil health, supporting biodiversity, and improving overall land resilience. The herd has been bred by Shropshire farmer Archie Corrie of Leighton Farm, where a long tradition of pedigree breeding means each registered animal is named in strict alphabetical order. It’s a little like naming hurricanes… only much calmer and with considerably more grass.

Following a visit to Archie’s renowned dairy farm, our first small herd was carefully selected by Emma, the Estate owner, her son James, and Paddy, Alscot’s regenerative farming expert. During their visit, they were able to get up close and personal with the cattle, which were remarkably calm and content in their natural surroundings — happily coming into contact with their prospective new owners, accompanied by Archie, who has been breeding these Longhorns since he was a boy.

Joining us soon are Unity, a mature cow with her heifer calf Zabrina, along with three in-calf heifers — Xola, Xeronema, and Ximena — all aged between 26 and 28 months. The herd is expected to arrive at Alscot between mid and late September.

These pedigree cattle will not only play an important ecological role on the land but will also form part of our longer-term ambition to produce organic food, grown and reared in harmony with nature.

We’re incredibly excited to welcome them to the Estate and look forward to sharing more updates — and perhaps some more quirky, easy-to-use pet names — as this regenerative journey continues to grow.