28 January 2025
In January 2025, HRH The Duke of Cornwall visited Lower Blakemere Farm in Hereford.
Lower Blakemere Farm is one of the Duchy of Cornwall’s seven Focus Farms, an initiative designed to share knowledge and experiences of the transition to greener farming practices. The 630-acre Hereford based farm was established in the early 1980s as a specialist seed grower with a herd of South Devon cattle. The farm has evolved over time and the family have embraced regenerative farming, with a focus on restoring soil health, boosting biodiversity, and using farming practices that are sustainable for the long term.
Tenant farmers Phil and Heather Gorringe, with their son Monty, have also diversified the farm business including repurposing the old grain store, creating an event space for local community use, and launching a successful composting business Wiggly Wigglers! HRH enjoying getting stuck in with the worm based compost and climbed up a seed drill whilst learning about the family's farming techniques.
As well as being a hub for regenerative farming, Lower Blakemere is also part of the Upper Wye Valley Ridge to River project, led by the Duchy of Cornwall and Moccas Estate. HRH met with Ridge to River steering group members to discuss progress of the project.
The Ridge to River project is a landmark, landscape-scale nature recovery programme which unites 16 local farms in a collaborative effort to achieve a resilient landscape, where a mosaic of woodlands, parkland, meres, farmland and floodplains provide food, boost biodiversity and protect water whilst contributing to climate mitigation and social value throughout the Wye Valley.
Lower Blakemere Farm is one of the Duchy of Cornwall’s seven Focus Farms, an initiative designed to share knowledge and experiences of the transition to greener farming practices. The 630-acre Hereford based farm was established in the early 1980s as a specialist seed grower with a herd of South Devon cattle. The farm has evolved over time and the family have embraced regenerative farming, with a focus on restoring soil health, boosting biodiversity, and using farming practices that are sustainable for the long term.
Tenant farmers Phil and Heather Gorringe, with their son Monty, have also diversified the farm business including repurposing the old grain store, creating an event space for local community use, and launching a successful composting business Wiggly Wigglers! HRH enjoying getting stuck in with the worm based compost and climbed up a seed drill whilst learning about the family's farming techniques.
As well as being a hub for regenerative farming, Lower Blakemere is also part of the Upper Wye Valley Ridge to River project, led by the Duchy of Cornwall and Moccas Estate. HRH met with Ridge to River steering group members to discuss progress of the project.
The Ridge to River project is a landmark, landscape-scale nature recovery programme which unites 16 local farms in a collaborative effort to achieve a resilient landscape, where a mosaic of woodlands, parkland, meres, farmland and floodplains provide food, boost biodiversity and protect water whilst contributing to climate mitigation and social value throughout the Wye Valley.
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