A SOUTH Cumbrian National Trust tenanted family dairy farm is a finalist in the Soil Association’s 2021 Best of Organic Market (BOOM) Awards.

Low Sizergh Farm near Kendal is one of three finalists in a new category, best of organic farms over 10 hectares. The two other farms are in Oxfordshire and Somerset.

The Park family has farmed with nature at Low Sizergh for the last 40 years and its high quality organic milk is sold direct from the farm and is also made into cheese and ice-cream.

Today the 400-acre farm is in the hands of Marjorie and John Park’s son Richard and his wife Judith and their son Matthew. And Richard’s sister Alison looks after the farm shop and café.

A delighted Alison Park, says it’s incredible to do so well in a national award, adding: “It’s heartening to see so many Cumbrian farmers making national headlines for being innovative and leading the way in new approaches to farming that tackle many of the issues facing society. We farm organically because it’s good for nature, the climate and people.

“Our aim is to produce milk from high-quality, home-grown forage as far as possible. And to make a sustainable living by offering customers good, wholesome food through identifiable local supply chains in our farm shop and café.

“We also offer camping, encourage people to explore the farm with a farm trail and host mental health charity Growing Well, who produce 100 bag crop share plus supplies for the farm shop and café.”

The Soil Association says it expert panels of judges were blown away by the range and quality of organic food and drink products and the dedication and innovation highlighted across the sector.

The winners will be announced at an online BOOM Awards Ceremony in London on Thursday, July 8.

About Low Sizergh

Cumbria is home to some of Britain’s oldest farms and agricultural traditions and records show that there has been a farm on the Low Sizergh site since the 13th century.

Once the home farm of Sizergh Castle, providing food for the Strickland family estate, we now send many thousands of litres of milk to Kendal to be made into desserts and yogurt, some to a local ice cream maker and to a Lancashire cheesemaker to be made into our own Kendal Creamy cheese.

Holsteins, Swedish Red and Montbeliards), 700 hens, and a flock of 200 Swaledale and Mule sheep. Run by Richard and Judith Park, the farm has always been working proof that good practice can lead to excellent productivity and enhanced animal welfare.

Our theory remains simple: happy animals create a healthy yield. Almost all the cows have been bred and reared by us. They graze the fields in the summer but live undercover between November and March, eating silage made from grass and other crops grown on the farm. With rubber-floored cubicles to sleep in, plenty of water to drink and scratching posts for comfort, they winter in the cow building until the weather picks up.

Our laying hens are pasture-raised. We are working with the Soil Association on incorporating our pastured egg system into the organic standards.