Hoopers Farm

They keep pedigree Sussex cattle, a breed that evolved to graze the local pastures without supplementary feeding, and the animals eat only forage: wildflower meadows from spring to autumn and the farm's own hay and silage in winter. The beef is Pasture for Life accredited, the fields get no artificial fertilisers, and the farm has been in stewardship schemes since 2003, planting over a kilometre of hedges along the way.

The beef is hung for at least three weeks to tenderise and deepen the flavour, then sold as individual cuts and good value beef packs that use the whole carcass. The steers travel just four miles to the local abattoir, keeping stress low for welfare and eating quality alike. There are sheep and Oxford Sandy and Black pigs on the farm too, solar panels on the cattle shed, and a converted barn, Swallows Lodge, for farm stays.