Buying a new farm meant that their family got to start with a blank canvas. The main enterprise on the Collins farm is Hereford cattle and they graze them on both clover-based swards and multi-species swards. Joe chose the Hereford breed because “we really wanted to go for quality over quantity, they are a lovely docile animal that are easily handled. The beef quality is very good and they finish off grass, which is great for our sustainability”.
In addition to the Herefords, Joe and Theresa also have free-range pigs, turkeys, hens and about fifteen bee hives. Dotted around the farm are a range of bird boxes including owl boxes and kestrel boxes. As well as following a natural way of farming, they have planted ten acres of native oak. Before they planted the oak, they under-sowed the area with grasses, herbs and weeds that pigs and hens will like, with the intention of letting those animals into the agri-forestry when the oak trees have established.