A pedigree Hereford herd is farmed for the Cotswold beef that is produced by Whittington Lodge Farm, on the Cotswold hills above Cheltenham . The herd lives on a diet of fresh pastures, herbs, legumes and wildflowers which is only supplemented with the farm's own organic hay and haylage in winter. The farm is Pasture for Life certified and practices mob grazing - once the herd has grazed a patch of fresh grass they are moved on and the ground behind them is rested for months afterwards. Calves stay with their mothers until they wean themselves naturally at around nine months. Breeding is natural using on site bulls. Ian and Cathy Boyd farm roughly 700 acres here with their daughter Steph Ackrill. Ian took the place on from his father. That continuity is worth knowing, because the wildflower meadows, herbal leys and permanent pasture the herd lives on take years to come good - it's not something anyone ever establishes for a quick return on investment! Corn buntings breed in the fields. In 2022 Farmers Weekly named Ian its Grassland Farmer of the Year and the same year The Independent newspaper put the Cotswold Beef box top of its meat box round-up - best for slow-grown native beef. You can order their beef online and it's shipped out across the UK in boxes and as individual cuts, packed in recyclable card and insulated with sheep's wool, or you can collect from the farm and have the postage refunded.

Awards and Recognition

Farmers Weekly Grassland Farmer of the Year 2022, awarded to Ian Boyd. The Independent, July 2022: the Cotswold Beef box took the overall Best Buy in its meat box round-up, named best for slow-grown, native beef. Organic and Pasture for Life certified.

Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/cotswoldbeef/ https://www.facebook.com/CotswoldBeef/

Can people visit or buy direct?

Beef boxes and individual cuts are ordered through the website and sent anywhere in the UK by overnight courier. Collection from the farm is possible and the postage is refunded. There is no farm shop and no fixed opening hours, so arrange collection with the farm first. Ticketed farm events run occasionally. Please follow them on social media or check their website for latest events.

Website

https://www.cotswoldbeef.com

Address Summary

Whittington Lodge Farm , Whittington , near Cheltenham, GL54 4HB