Farming

Farming in harmony with nature

Our Farm

Warren Farm is a small livestock farm which is mainly situated around Alum Bay and Totland. The farm extends to around 300 acres, much of which is grassland which is grazed sensitively with cattle and sheep to help preserve the natural environment.

As tenants of the National Trust, we work closely to try and improve the landscape and biodiversity on the farm. Over the past few years we have eliminated the use of artificial fertiliser and pesticides and have been implementing new grazing techniques to help improve our soils. ​

Warren Farm has a diversified livestock business, with a small ‘microdairy’ herd of Jersey cows, a herd of Sussex beef cattle, in addition to Herdwick & Hebridean sheep.

Coffee Bean

Beef Cows

We have a herd of around 80 Hereford & Sussex cattle

Coffee Bean

Sheep

We have around 150 Hebridean & Herdwick sheep 

Dairy Cows

We have a microdairy herd of 9 milking cows

Sights and Sounds

We welcome visitors to the farm to see the animals and enjoy the stunning views whilst walking in the area. Our cattle and sheep are grazing for most of the year so can be seen in the fields, and we have plenty of calves and lambs running around throughout the spring and summer seasons.

We grow hay and silage to help feed the livestock during the winter, and you can also see our ‘herbal leys’ in the summer – a diverse mix of 25 different grasses, legumes, herbs and wildflowers, which make for fantastic colourful meadows.

Keep an ear out for the local wildlife whilst walking in the area, our favourite sights and sounds are the skylarks which nest on West High Down, or the swallows which spend hours following the cows and eating flies at great speed.

History

John Osman originally took on the tenancy for Warren Farm in 1965 when it was in the ownership of the Ward Estate, who also owned Weston Manor in Totland. In 1979 the farm was bought by the National Trust and has remained in their ownership ever since.

For many years, Warren Farm was run as a dairy farm, with much of the milk being bottled and sold locally via a milk round. In 2001, the dairy herd was sold and replaced with a beef herd which remains until this day.
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The farm is now being run by the next generation, with John & Liz’s son James is taking on the farm business. James and his partner Becca now look after the farm, whilst his brother Chris, and fiancé Isabel look after the Farm Shop & Coffee shop enterprises.