Rishi congratulated a North York Moors farming couple on the success of their diversification efforts after visiting their award-winning farm.
Mark and Louise Day, who run New Sheepfold Farm in Ingleby Greenhow, have transformed their family business in recent years - moving away from traditional dairy farming to create a thriving rural enterprise.
Their work has seen them win the Diversification Award at The Northern Farmer Awards and become finalists for Best Rural Enterprise in the Countryside Alliance Awards, with voting closing on April 6th.
Having taken over the farm from Mark’s parents, Paul and Molly, the couple have introduced a range of successful initiatives, including a meat vending machine, award-winning shepherd hut accommodation and habitat improvements to boost local biodiversity.
During the visit, Rishi was shown the farm’s Golden Guernsey goats, Shorthorn cattle, and lambs, as well as the four VisitEngland Gold Award-winning shepherd huts that provide high-quality holiday accommodation.
Rishi also toured the old dairy, now home to a vending machine offering grass-fed beef and lamb directly to the public - a business move that has significantly increased footfall to the farm and the wider North York Moors area.
The visit also highlighted the environmental work the Days have undertaken, supported in part by funding from the North York Moors National Park through the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme. The total FiPL grant of £19,707 has provided significant benefits, funding the vending machine and habitat improvements.
This funding, introduced by the last Government, enabled the creation of wildlife ponds and scrapes, resulting in a boost to local biodiversity. The funding also supported soil health surveys, allowing for improvements to grassland productivity for their livestock.
The Days also welcome local school groups to the farm as part of their commitment to education and community engagement, giving children the opportunity to learn more about farming, food production, and local wildlife.
“We were delighted to welcome Rishi to New Sheepfold Farm and showcase the transformation we've undergone here since 2017. It’s been a steep learning curve and amazing journey for us. We're committed to building a profitable and sustainable future on the farm, and we are putting everything in place to achieve this. We are incredibly grateful for the support of the North York Moors National Park, and it was a pleasure to welcome both Tom and Jim alongside Rishi.
Building on the success of our Northern Farmer Award for Farm Diversification, we're now honoured to be nominated for the Countryside Alliance Awards, with the chance to be crowned the Best Rural Business in the North of England.” said Louise Day following the visit.
Louise said that anyone wishing to support them in the Countryside Alliance Awards would be able to vote for them here: https://www.research.net/r/Northbiz25
Rishi said: “It’s fantastic to see how Mark and Louise have transformed their family farm, not only building a successful rural enterprise but also creating a positive impact on the local environment. Their work shows how diversification, supported by targeted funding, can boost local economies and promote nature recovery. I wish them the best luck with the Countryside Alliance Awards.”
Rishi was joined by Tom Hind, CEO, and Jim Bailey, Chair of the North York Moors National Park, who outlined the Park’s ongoing work to support local farmers, like Mark and Louise, in enhancing landscapes and biodiversity.
Reflecting on the visit, Rishi added: “The Farming in Protected Landscapes funding, introduced during my time as Chancellor, has clearly made a tangible difference here. It’s great to see farms like New Sheepfold balancing sustainable food production with conservation, while also creating new revenue streams and educational opportunities.”
