Farming sustainably on the North York Moors

This film highlights the work of the Trevelyan family - Nelly, Philip and Matthew at Hill Top Farm in Spaunton. They bought the farm in 1974, which was certified organic by the Soil Association in 1985.



 In the film they describe their work producing Shearling meat that is sold locally. Shearling is an older lamb, living free on the varied plants of the North Yorkshire Moors (including bog myrtle, bilberries and moorland grasses) that has had one winter and one shearing before slaughter. The grazing gives this meat its distinctive flavour, which is very different to that of ordinary grass-fed animals. Locally slaughtered and hung, the fine marbling of fat in moorland shearlings makes superb-tasting meals.

In 1997 Philip Trevelyan founded the "Lazy Dog Tool Company", which specialises in handmade hand tools for "chemical-free weed control". This has featured on Gardeners' World (2002). In 2003 it was awarded a Green Apple Award by The Green Organisation.

In 2005 the family also started a flour milling company "Yorkshire Organic Millers" and mill locally-grown organic wheat. This operation is now run by miller Joe Coughlan.

On 23 January 2008 Hill Top Farm was visited by HRH The Prince of Wales.

Find out more about the family and their fascinating lives here.

The North York Moors have interesting material about farming on the upland moors here and information about Deliciously Yorkshire, which is mentioned in the film, can be found here.

If you know of other sustainable initiatives taking place on moorland farms locally please get in touch.