Just outside of the small market town of Wellington in Somerset you'll find the most miraculous farm. It is the closest thing you can imagine to stepping into a time machine and being transported back a century, when life was simpler and nature dominated rural landscapes.
Protected by traditional wide, deep, meandering hedges, flanked by ancient Oak, Ash and Horse Chestnut trees, you'll find acres of undisturbed permanent pasture being carefully grazed by a herd of magnificent, native Red Ruby cattle. In this totally natural, unspoilt landscape Derek breeds our pure Red Ruby progeny, from our carefully kept traditional Devon blood lines.
We have been working with Derek for 20 years.
There isn't a shadow of a doubt that the lineage of some of the best cattle in the country has come from this truly unique farm.
You could be forgiven for thinking you are living in a bygone era watching the horned Devon's graze ancient pasture in front a traditional courtyard and an old stone cottage overgrown with trees and ivy - inside and out! Nothing has changed on this farm for years, from the breed that calls this place home, to the traditional way in which they are calved, carefully in deep straw bedded stone barns, or in some cases out in the lush fields.
The calves stay with their mothers until they have naturally weaned at around 9 months, ensuring they have the very best start in life. They only ever eat mother's milk and grass, building real natural immunity.
After suffering a stroke a few years ago, Derek continues to oversee all aspects of his beloved farm, while these days riding a rather nifty 4x4 mobility scooter. Nothing will deter him from his passion of bringing on the next generation of traditional, native breed Red Ruby cattle.
It is the special characters like Derek that make Pipers Farm tapestry of small-scale farmers so rich and unique. Just like this unspoilt corner of Somerset, their knowledge and values are worth preserving for future generations to follow.
