Our Farm
We’re the Errington Family and we’ve been producing milk on our farm for three generations.
Today, John Errington continues the work started by his father Anthony and grandfather John, producing milk in the Eden Valley and caring for the land and herd that make it possible.
For us, good milk starts with good farming — looking after the cows properly, respecting the land, and doing things the right way. It’s a straightforward approach that has guided the farm for decades and continues to shape how we run the farm today.
Our farm is based near Penrith, Cumbria, in the green pastures of the Eden Valley and Lake District National Park.
“Our family has farmed this land in the Eden Valley for generations. Bottling our own milk and sharing it locally feels like the natural next step — building on the past and starting an exciting new chapter for the farm”
How do we farm?
Our herd of Fleckvieh cows sits at the heart of the farm. This traditional dual-purpose breed is known for producing naturally rich, well-balanced milk.
They graze the fields through the summer months and spend the winter in comfortable sheds where they have space to rest on soft beds. Their feed is carefully balanced and based largely on crops grown here on the farm.
Well-looked-after cows naturally produce better milk, and the quality of our milk reflects the care we give our herd every day.
Our Cows
Much of what our cows eat is grown here on the farm.
Grass from our fields becomes winter forage, barley supports the young stock, and straw from our own crops keeps the herd warm and comfortable during the colder months.
Growing our own feed allows us to manage the farm as a balanced system, where the land supports the herd and the herd supports the land.
Growing Our Own Feed
Our farming system works as a natural cycle.
Crops feed the cows, the cows return nutrients to the land, and healthy soils grow the next season’s crops. By keeping this cycle in balance we maintain fertile ground, productive grassland and a farm that can continue for generations to come.
Farmers have long understood this balance — long before terms like sustainable or regenerative became fashionable.
Full Cycle Farming
Healthy soil is at the heart of good farming.
Many years ago we invested in covered slurry storage that allows us to carefully collect and store manure from the herd. The covers help keep rainwater out, reducing the volume that needs to be handled and helping retain valuable nutrients in the slurry.
When conditions are right, those nutrients are returned to the land to feed the soil and support healthy grass and crops. Storing slurry in this way also helps reduce the risk of nutrients reaching nearby streams and rivers.
It’s a simple, practical cycle — nutrients from the land feed the cows, and nutrients from the cows help feed the land.
Natural Soil Care
Our farm is home to far more than just cows. Across the fields, hedgerows and woodland you’ll find a wide variety of wildlife — red squirrels, deer, barn owls, lapwings, hares, hedgehogs, voles, pheasants, butterflies, bees, dragonflies, buzzards and hawks, along with many other birds and insects that appear throughout the farming year.
These species thrive because the farm provides a mixture of grassland, hedgerows and natural habitats. Looking after the land properly means looking after everything that lives on it.
Farming with Nature
We are always looking for practical ways to reduce the environmental impact of the farm.
A biomass boiler provides hot water and heating for the dairy, helping reduce the farm’s carbon footprint. Water comes from our own borehole, supplying fresh drinking water for the herd and helping maintain high standards of hygiene in the dairy.