Old Park House Farm

Old Park House Farm is a small farm in Bedale, trying to diversify while keeping hold of traditional farming values. Many years ago it formed part of the Hornby Castle estate. It has now been in Thomas’s wife’s family for three years. These days it’s home to a glamping site and Thomas’s flock of Kerry Hill sheep.

“Sheep are like Marmite: you love them or you hate them, and I’m still not sure which I think.”Thomas Tennant

The sheep are grass-fed year round, whether that’s grazing out in the field or tucking into home-produced hay. Around lambing time, the ewes get a top-up of sheep nuts and some mineral licks to help them stay in the best possible condition and health. When it comes to medication, Thomas only steps in when a sheep really needs it.

Patience is the other big part of it. Thomas never sells any of his lambs as spring lamb. Instead, they all grow on into hoggets before any go to slaughter. That extra time as grass-fed sheep lets them fill out into good shape, with a great fat-to-meat ratio and, best of all, lots of flavour.