New year, new venture as Crouchlands Farm in West Sussex gains Red Tractor assurance status in time for the launch of their premium, traditional breed beef, lamb and hogget
The 500-acre farm, set amongst beautiful pastures and ancient woodland between Plaistow and Kirdford, is home to pedigree Hereford cattle, Lleyn and Herdwick sheep. The farm’s newly acquired Red Tractor assured status means it is producing to world-class farming standards.
Red Tractor is the UK’s biggest assurance scheme, and its certified standards cover animal welfare, food safety, traceability and environmental protection. Whenever shoppers and diners see the logo on packaging, they can be assured they are purchasing food that is traceable, safe and farmed with care.
For John Scott, farm manager, the Red Tractor is recognition of two years’ hard work on the farm. He comments, “We are really delighted that we are now assured to Red Tractor standards. Animal health and wellbeing is a priority for us at Crouchlands and it has been great to see our heritage breeds flourish in the environment we have provided for them. We’ve had 45 Hereford calves born in the last year, taking the herd to 140, and many new lambs joining the Herdwicks and Lleyns in the pastures.”
Red Tractor chief executive Jim Moseley says, “The core purpose of Red Tractor is to provide confidence and reassurance to the public that when they see the logo, the food they buy is genuinely British, fully traceable, carefully farmed and safe. By becoming Red Tractor assured, Crouchlands Farm will need to continually demonstrate that they are meeting our assurance criteria and farming to world-class standards on animal welfare and environmental protection – which is a win-win for their customers and for their farm business.”
Crouchlands’ approach to quality over quantity means that all the animals enjoy a 100% natural diet of grasses, wildflowers and herbs. This means they are slow-growing and much healthier and happier as a result, which is reflected in the rich and unique flavour of the beef, lamb and hogget. Their foraged diet also has the dual benefit of improving biodiversity on the farm. As they graze the landscape, they remove scrub, coarse grasses, brambles and nettles and this restores the edges of the ancient woodland and brings more wildflowers to the meadows.
The premium quality meat will soon be available to chefs, restaurateurs and butchers and, depending on the season, lamb, hogget and beef carcasses can be bought in quarters, halves or whole.
Later this year, Crouchlands will also be offering meat boxes to the public with nose to tail cuts of their pasture fed beef and lamb. They will also be introducing pork. If you are interested in hearing about this when it goes live, please register here to subscribe to the newsletter.