The Farmers Mart Apr-May 2018 - Issue 56 | Page 46

46 YEW TREE FARM APR/MAY 2018 • farmers-mart.co.uk Phil Rigby © YEW TREE FARM Jason recently caught up Jon Watson and Jo Mcgrath to chat about sheep farming, Beatrix Potter and celebrities who have visited Yew Tree Farm. TENNENT farmer Jon Watson has been at Yew Tree farm for the last 16 years, prior to moving to the Lake District, Jon managed a farm in North Yorkshire. Yew Tree is a 600- acre hill farm of fell and field, near Coniston in the Lake district. The farm has an interest- ing history, most famous for being owned by the late Beatrix Potter in the 1930’s and is home to many of her furnishings. The farm was originally named after a Yew tree that was 700 years when it cut down in 1896, the remains of which can still be seen in the field behind the house. The farmhouse is traditional cruck framed building built around 1690. Then farm remained in the hands of the Walker family for two centuries, they were responsible for the extension of the house in 1745. In 1930 the farm was put up for sale, and the National Trust wanted to purchase the farm but couldn’t raise the funds. In stepped Beatrix Potter, known locally as Mrs Heelis, who was a known supporter of the trust, bought the farm. She bought the property with the view that once the Trust had enough funds they would purchase the property from her. Once the National Trust bought the prop- erty, Beatrix acted as Land Agent for 10 years on behalf of the trust. During this time, she helped set up a tea room at the farm and filled the property with her own furniture and several items that would be of interest to passing tourists. The farmhouse is one of the most photographed farms in the UK. Many tourists from around the world visit the farm, with the sole purpose of photographing the location, especially after the farmhouse was used in the film Miss. Potter. Today Jon runs both Herdwick Sheep, a grey fleeced hardy breed well suited to the hills of Cumbria and Belted Galloway Cattle on the farm, as well as running his well-known Heritage Meat brand, which specialises in naturally reared lamb, hogget, mutton and beef. His Herdwick sheep gained PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status in 2012, this is only given to meat (lamb & mutton) derived from sheep of pure bred Herdwick ewes and rams that have been born, raised and slaughtered in Cumbria. Jon’s Heritage Meats brand has attracted several well-known chefs over the years, which has included John Kristoff Novelli, who raved about the hogget, and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who wandered around the farm with Jon pointing out edible wild plants growing on the farm that Jon didn’t know about. Afterwards Hugh cooked up a meal of mushrooms and plants found the farm, he has also cooked the hogget from Heritage Meats, and another very impressed customer. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall said; “Jon Watson and Yew Tree Farm exemplify everything that’s right about a new gen- eration of conscientious and professional small-scale meat producer, everything from the delicious carefully presented meat to the impressive packaging smacks of atten- tion to detail and quality. Their Herdwick Hogget is among the finest I have tasted”. The Heritage Meat brand has received several awards which has included 3 Gold Stars in the Great Taste Awards, as well as being approved by Masterchef, as a top-quality meat which can be bought using the Masterchef gift card. The aim behind Heritage Meats has always been to make traditional farming with native breeds a financially viable option. Kristoff and Hugh are not the only celebri- ties to have visited the farm over the years,