On Thursday 15th June, guests gathered to be shown around Tretharrup Farm by host Geoff Williams, taking a look at the wonderful beef herd and their abundant herbal leys. Tretharrup Farm won the Cornwall Otter Award in 2022, this walk was arranged in celebration, to showcase all the wonderful work that Geoff is doing on the farm.

Tretharrup Farm is a 100ha beef farm on the Lizard Peninsula with regenerative principals at the forefront. Herbal Leys are abundant and paddock grazing in place and expanding. Over recent years, Geoff has been reducing inputs, including artificial fertiliser by over 50% and rising. The farm takes a considered stance on ploughing and makes conscious efforts to reduce CO2 outputs. The farm has solar and the holiday cottages on site use biomass or heat pumps to eliminate the use of oil on site. Soil carbon testing is carried out regularly and Tretharrup has hosted a MSc student from the Eden Project to undertake soil tests and study the impacts of outwintering cattle. The farm is also involved with the Farmland Bird Project.

 

 

Geoff lead the tour, showing guests around the farm and welcoming discussion around run-off and soil, his use of herbal leys which bring a range of benefits to forage, livestock health and soil fertility at Tretharrup, paddock grazing, hedge planting and maintenance and much more.

 

 

 

 

The weather was on our side, and guests were refreshed with a cold drink and a pasty post walk. Over lunch, Judge Sonia Oates presented the Cornwall Otter trophy to Geoff, in celebration of his work and commitments to good practice and long ternm commitment to sustainable farming. The Cornwall Otter Award has a well-renowned legacy, being awarded since 1984. Many thanks to Geoff for hosting and huge congratulations from everyone at FWAG SW.

Cornwall Otter Judge Sonia Oates, presenting the trophy to host and 2022 winner Geoff Williams

 

The annual Cornwall Otter Trophy has been awarded for over thirty years to celebrate the long-term commitment to wildlife conservation and sustainable farming shown by many farmers across the county. Click here to find out more.