We are very excited to share that we have been asked to take on the stewardship of 15 acres of grassland at Headway Sussex. For years, this land had been left to rewild, but without careful stewardship, it had become overgrown and neglected. Ragwort, brambles, and creeping thistles had taken over, the hedges were damaged, and nothing was being maintained. Once a thriving ecosystem, the land was now in need of care.
For us, this is a beautiful opportunity—a story of tending and restoring the land back to native grassland. Our approach is rooted in active conservation grazing, working with nature to heal and rejuvenate the landscape.
What Does It Mean to Be a Steward of the Land?
To us, stewardship is not about ownership or control; it is about care, respect, and understanding. Land is not just a resource but a living system that thrives when tended with balance. We are not here to impose our will upon this landscape but to observe, listen, and gently guide it into greater abundance, diversity, and resilience.
Stewardship also acknowledges the deep interconnection between people and place. Land is not separate from us—we are part of its story, just as it shapes ours. This is at the heart of everything we do at My Little Farm: we see ourselves as participants in nature, not outsiders.
Conservation Grazing: The First Steps
The first step on this journey was to secure the land with proper fencing to ensure the safe and effective management of grazing animals. Then, last week, we introduced our flock of Hebridean sheep, one of Britain’s most primitive sheep breeds, shaped by centuries of survival in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. Within a week, they had already begun clearing the toughest plants and brambles. And earlier this week, we brought in our Riggit Galloway cows, a rare and ancient strain of Galloway cattle. Because they are small and lightweight, they have minimal impact on the land while still contributing to the restoration process making them perfect for conservation grazing. Both are native to harsh landscapes and thrive on diverse, wild forage where modern breeds would struggle. Together, they are the perfect duo to restore this land back to balance.
Moving forward we will be moving and rotating the animals across different areas of the land regularly. This methods mimics the natural grazing patterns of wild animals with periods of disruption and fertilisation followed by a period of rest. It ensures the best possible regeneration of the land.
How Hebridean Sheep and Galloway Cows Work Together
The introduction of these two breeds marks the beginning of a long-term conservation project. Each plays a unique role in regenerating the land:
- The Galloway cows create paths through dense brambles, opening up access for the sheep to reach tougher areas.
- The Hebridean sheep follow behind, tackling overgrown vegetation, including thistles and ragwort, keeping the land open and diverse.
Both animals fertilise the land naturally, improving soil health and biodiversity. By rotating them strategically, we create a dynamic landscape where different plant species can thrive, supporting a wider variety of wildlife.This time of year is particularly well-suited to this type of restoration grazing, as the ragwort is still young and not yet toxic to the animals. By grazing it now, we prevent it from becoming a problem later.
Why Grasslands Matter
This work is about more than just clearing overgrown fields—it’s about restoring the land to what it should have been: a biodiverse native grassland. There’s a lot of talk about re-wilding land by fencing it off and letting it return to woodland. But we believe this idea is very one-dimensional. By letting land turn into woodlands, we are removing essential grasslands. In nature, grazing animals would play a vital role in shaping landscapes, preventing stagnation, and maintaining open, thriving grasslands.
Grasslands are crucial habitats, home to countless insects, birds, and mammals. If all land were left to become woodland, many species that depend on open pastures would be displaced, disrupting natural balances. A truly wild system includes grazing animals that keep areas open, creating a diverse landscape of meadows, parklands, and woodlands.
A Long-Term Collaboration
This conservation work is a long-term collaboration between My Little Farm and Headway Sussex, the charity that owns the land. We are incredibly grateful for their trust in allowing us to bring this land back to life in a way that benefits both the ecosystem and the animals that graze here.
For us, this is not just an opportunity to do good—it is also a chance to raise the purest meat. Because this land has been left in a rewilded state for decades, it is completely free from chemicals or modern agricultural inputs and offers the purest pasture for our animals.
Looking Ahead
As we step into this new role as stewards of this land, we do so with humility, excitement, and a deep sense of purpose. We will be sharing updates as we observe the land, introduce animals in a regenerative way, and explore how we can co-create an abundant, thriving ecosystem that includes all of us—wildlife, plants, animals, and people.
Join the Conversation
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this journey of restoration and stewardship:
- What does land stewardship mean to you?
- Have you ever observed how grazing animals shape a landscape? What differences did you notice?
- Do you think re-wilding should always mean returning land to woodland, or is there a place for managed grasslands?
- How do you think we can strike the right balance between conservation and food production?
- What traditional land management techniques do you think have been forgotten and should be brought back?
Drop a comment below. Let's explore these ideas together.
Comments (1)
I absolutely love what you’re doing and what it really means to be stewards of the land and just by reading through your knowledge and understanding of the land I am learning and I give gratitude to be able to participate. Thank you!