About Us - The Booth Family, Dorset

Farm Background

essential Waitrose Milk producers - Vicky and Andrew Booth

Andrew and Vicky Booth farm in partnership on a mixed farm extending to about 750 acres, of which around 500 acres are owned, and the remainder is contract farmed for other people. In addition to Vicky's true love - the 185 cows and the dairy followers - the farm runs a beef herd, grows wheat, spring barley and maize, has a holiday letting business accommodating 22 people, and an extremely moderate herd of 3 pigs, 2 sheep and an indeterminate number of chickens!

Andrew is also a part time land agent working for a local firm of Land Agents.

The farm has been in Vicky's family for three generations and with four children following with interest it appears that this line will continue.

WildCare Involvement

Andrew - who is also an elected representative for other local Waitrose dairy farmers supplying their milk to Waitrose - comments on the WildCare Scheme.

"We are really excited by the WildCare Project and the new association between Waitrose, the Wildlife Trusts and us, the essential Waitrose dairy farm producers. We recognise that farmers have had a bad press over recent years on many matters environmental. This Scheme demonstrates in a palpable and independent way that the dairy farm producers do care deeply about the environment in which they work and all the natural things that surround them.

"On our farm we have tried over many years to improve the wildlife habitats. For example, five years ago we planted five acres of trees in three compartments and ten years ago, rather than ploughing up a steep bank, we left the area to regenerate naturally. At certain times of the year this area now enjoys a profusion of butterflies. The farm enjoys the company of many rare species, including an abundance of skylarks, corn buntings, egrets, green finches, brown hares and even the occasional otter. We have yet to persuade the lapwing (or peewit) to make home here but this is now very much on our agenda.

"The independently audited WildCare Scheme has measured that 21.3% of our farm is eligible wildlife habitat - surely confirmation that we, like our fellow dairy farm producers, really do care about the species we share the farm with.

"They say that you are never too old to learn, and this is one of the really great things about WildCare - it evolves. Each year, following an independent appraisal, targets and potential actions are determined on areas of the farm that can be improved. In this way we are moving forward and the environment continues to benefit.

"It must not be forgotten that our objective is to farm in a commercial, profitable and sustainable manner. To do otherwise compromises the future of our family, the future of our farm and the ultimately the future of the essential Waitrose milk supply. The WildCare Scheme demonstrates that it is perfectly possible to farm in such a manner, whilst at the same time caring for and improving the varied environment that we all cherish."