Meet the NFU Uplands Groups

The couple farm 400 breeding ewes with all lambs sold store or for breeding and 60 pedigree Luing cows, with all progeny sold under 12 months in the store or for breeding.

The farm is home to Wannies retreat – a converted railway carriage holiday let.

Nature and biodiversity enhancement are a big part of the business with the majority of the farm in CSHT (Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier) or SFI.

The farm runs a pedigree flock of Swaledales and breeds Swaledales and North of England Mules; pedigree Swaledale ewes are kept within the flock as replacements and males are sold either as stores or as shearlings for breeding. A closed herd of 40 beef cows made up of pedigree British Blues and commercial Limousin and Blue and Limousin crosses also keep Richard busy on the farm.

Richard is concerned about the viability of upland farming in future years without access to support payments and the necessity of graziers working together to save the commons.

Helen is predominantly on tenanted ground, with all of her moors and some of her green land being under an AHA tenancy with United utilities. The rest is either owned or tenanted from six other landlords under FBTs.

She runs approximately 2000 breeding ewes and 40 beef shorthorn suckler cattle. Most of the lambs are fattened either on ground held on a week-by-week basis over winter, or at home on bought in feed.

Most of her cattle are also fattened at home or on grass, or some bought in feed. Helen also sells meat boxes direct to the public. This is her second term on the NFU's Next Generation forum.

He has 2000 acres of moorland in a HLS agreement and the farm is stocked with mainly Easycare ewes as well as pedigree flocks of Beltex and Suffolks.

He is director of the “7 Hill Farmers Ltd” producer group and has been NFU Livestock Board chair since March 2018.

They also have 250 suckler cows all with followers which are retained on farm for finishing or sold as breeding stock, as well as a small herd of Dartmoor ponies.

Mat actively grazes over 5 commons with hefted stock and therefore has considerable experience of agreements on commons as well as on the home farm.

He is also a director of Dartmoor Farmers a marketing group that sells premium beef and lamb into select Morrisons stores as well as retailers and wholesales. 

In the past, Stephen has had both sheep and cattle, but has now reduced his stock to 150 sheep.

He also sits on the Bodmin Moor Commoners Council to help represent those farming the moor.

Hindon has been organic since the late 90's and is managed regeneratively.

Part of the National Trust's Holnicote Estate, Hindon produces organic grass-fed beef and lamb from a herd of Pedigree Belted Galloways, a herd of Aberdeen Angus, and a flock of Hill Breed sheep.

As the Somerset representative for the Uplands South group, Chris will be looking to ensure those farming in the upland's areas of the county and wider southern area have the same support and opportunities as those in the lowland areas.

Somerset has a large number of traditional hill farms that make up the majority if not the entirety of some of our communities and the continuation of these businesses is incredibly important.

The uplands are also hugely significant areas for environmental benefit, and we need to ensure any decisions made at a national level are suitable, sensible and achievable for uplands farmers.

He also has a herd consisting of 800 cattle, predominantly Belgian Blues and Angus, all purchased as calves and sold as stores. The farm has a strong emphasis on maximising production from grass, with wintering outdoors on kale. A small part of the farm is in Countryside stewardship. 

Graham is currently NFU Ludlow's Branch Chairman and Chairman of the local Parish Council. In his spare time, he enjoys a game of 5-a-side football. 

Chris also grows cereals in the rotation to produce his own feed and straw which he also uses to renew the grass leys. 

Chris also uses the crops he grows to help with fattening lambs over winter to sell in the spring.