Simon Cutter
Model Farm, nr Ross-on-Wye, Herefs
Simon Cutter describes his farm :
Model Farm is a Herefordshire County Council Smallholding that was origionally set up to give soldiers returning from the Crimean War a start in farming.
Our organic conversion started in 1999, although no fertilser or sprays had been used for 7 years. The farm crops include potatoes, sweetcorn, artichokes, lucerne and white clover. We also graze some parkland with our cattle. The suckler herd is made up of a variety of breeds, and includes British White, Beef Shorthorn, Sussex and the now rare British Polled Hereford. All the cattle are served by a Hereford bull.
We joined the Countryside Stewardship Scheme in 2001. Field margins, scrape and set-a-side are made up of 10 acres of Wild Bird Seed. Lapwings, Skylarks, Partridge and Hares are prolific despite the proximity to Ross-on-Wye.
