Earlier this month I stood on the top of the North Yorkshire moors on the Summerstone Estate. I was looking at 80 Belted Galloway and calves roaming 1,500 acres.
The farmer Graham was almost more excited about the returning white leaf clover growing and going to seed than showing off his latest calves. The word regenerative is thrown around a lot but there was no disputing the definition here. These cattle were free roaming and very hard to find!
The regenerative methods of farming at Summerstone mean that the cattle are used to improve soil health by lightly grazing pasture and moving on, whilst naturally fertilising the pasture without depleting the land of its nutrients. Building soil fertility allows the native grasses and flowers to grow, in turn creating a natural ecosystem that was alive around us, with the red kite circling over the abundance of wildflowers.
These cattle are pedigree and they only make up a small part of our new heritage breed scheme but I have no doubt this will be some of the best beef we’ll see in boxes in the months to come.
Belties are native and enjoy tougher terrains and poorer grasses. They thrive in these conditions and love laying down fat. Walking these fields and understanding how Graham cares for them is incredibly important to us. He’s also a vet where being a vet in James Herriot country is a competitive field!
We recognise that as our business has grown the beef we retail has been inconsistent at times. We have spent the last 12 months looking at how we can give you access to even better beef, and the result is something we’re all really excited about.
We started Field & Flower with traditional breed cattle on our own farm and have always tried to ensure the beef we deliver you matches the first 32 beef boxes we ever sold in 2011. Here is a photo of me packing one of our first beef boxes, luckily Polystyrene boxes are a thing of the past!
Driving away from a day on the Yorkshire Moors along the river Nidd and through Grassington was a day which ensured we were still in touch with our farming roots and confirmed we have found some fantastic new beef farmers, producing beef that we can’t wait for you to try.
Sourced from slow-grown, heritage breed cattle from a network of the some of the best independent beef farmers in England, the cuts delivered to you will now be the same premium quality beef served in leading steak restaurants across the country.
Here's why we're delivering the best meat you can buy:
1. Sourcing heritage breeds
Reared traditionally by our forefathers, ‘heritage breed’ refers to the diverse range of native cattle that have flourished in Britain’s countrysides for generations. Their natural affinity for the outdoors means they are suited to true free-ranging, thriving on poorer grasses, foraging in the hedgerows and maturing slowly under the watchful gaze of our dedicated farmers. This approach all adds up to a higher quality meat, superior animal welfare, lower environmental impact and better tasting beef. Our new supply brings you the best heritage breed beef from your prime cuts to your everyday staples, sourcing a diverse selection of native and rare breeds based on seasonality and availability.
Featured breeds:
- Belted Galloway
- Dexter
- Ruby Red Devon
- Angus
- Hereford
2. Connecting farming communities to people that care
Founded by two passionate agriculturists, it’s always been one of our main missions to support small, family-run farms and our local farming communities.
Our new beef supply allows us to support these communities more than ever before, working with small, regional abattoirs and uniting you with even more independent beef farmers. This translates to fewer food miles from farm to slaughter, supporting regenerative practices, and more money to our hardworking local farming communities. With every new purchase of our steaks, joints and everyday cuts, you’ll be making a greater impact on sustaining local agriculture and keeping UK free-range farming alive.
3. Better taste
This level of stewardship, animal welfare and fully free-range lifestyle all adds up to beef that tastes exceptionally good. Allowed to fully mature, roam and freely express their natural behaviours, our beef develops spectacular marbling, a richness of flavour and the tender, cuts-like-butter texture that everybody covets in beef. It’s the very same premium quality beef being supplied to leading steak restaurants and smokehouses in London, giving you restaurant quality beef at home.
