Farming

We look after a large amount of farmland across the UK. We’re working with our farms and tenants to produce local and seasonal food in an environmentally sustainable way

Nosey cattle beside the wall at Hadrian's Wall and Housesteads Fort, Northumberland
White Park cattle at Dinefwr Park and Castle, Carmarthenshire

BBC Countryfile Live Podcast 

Listen to our special BBC Countryfile Live podcast series, recorded at the 2019 BBC Countryfile Live show at Blenheim Palace. Hear talks and debates from a host of expert speakers including Ray Mears, Simon King and Lizzie Daly.

Listen to the series
Tom the robot is being trialled at Wimpole in Cambridgeshire

Working with robots to transform farming 

Robots are changing the future of farming. Find out how we're working with the Small Robot Company to tackle weeds, monitor crops and protect wildlife.

Meet the robots we work with
Wild flowers in the grassland at Swan Barn Farm, Surrey

Hilltop farms need public support to turn a profit 

Farms without public support on average make losses of more than £20,362 a year, according to a report on the profitability of hilltop farms, funded by RSPB, National Trust and Wildlife Trusts.

Read the full findings.

Farming stories

Don & Jenny together at Wimpole Home Farm

Don and Jenny, Wimpole Home Farm 

After being diagnosed with dementia five years ago, retired farmer Don lost touch with his agricultural past. With the help of his wife Jenny and a Farming Memories group on the Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire, Don is rediscovering his love of working on the land.

Emma is an integral part of life at Saddlescombe Farm, West Sussex

Emma, Saddlescombe Farm 

While recovering from a period of illness, Emma's doctor recommended the Grow Project at Saddlescombe Farm in West Sussex. What began as a one week course to help improve wellbeing through time spent outdoors has grown into a much deeper connection with that farm that has changed her life.

Cattle walking into the water of Lough Erne Play Video
Video

Cows on the moo-ve

We all love a holiday, but cows on the Crom estate in Northern Ireland have particularly unusual way of getting to their summer destination. Every year the herd takes the plunge for a 100-metre swim across Lough Erne, carefully guided by our rangers. It’s all worth the effort though as they’re rewarded with 40 acres of fresh pasture on the island of Inishfendra, where their grazing helps to keep the scrub under control and allow wild flowers, bees and butterflies to flourish.

Herdwick sheep checking our rangers are doing a good job of dry stone walling!

Why we champion sustainable food 

We love sustainably produced, local and seasonal food because it's better for the special places we look after, better for the environment and it tastes better too. Discover our views on food and farming.

Read about our views

Farm produce

A view of the apples, eggs and rhubarb on sale at the Osterley Park farm shop, Middlesex

Farm shops 

Pick up fresh, tasty local produce from one of our farm shops, run independently by our tenant farmers.

A joint of meat ready to be roasted with onions and thyme

Farm fresh meat boxes 

Many of our farms will supply fresh meat boxes, for those times when you want something tasty an nutritious for dinner.

Local produce on offer at Killerton's farmers' market

Our best farmers' markets 

The best place to find excellent British food is at a farmer’s market. Here are some of the best farmer’s markets held at our places around the country.

Gathering the Welsh Mountain sheep on Watkin Path on the Hafod Y Llan farm, Snowdonia, Wales

Our ambitions for hill farming, nature and heritage 

Dame Helen Ghosh, our former Director-General outlines proposals to support the farming community and confirms the National Trust's commitment to farming, landscapes and nature.

Find out more