The Farm : Matson Ground

As part of our recent centenary celebrations and reflections, we commissioned a short film to capture this moment in time at Matson Ground.

As stewards of this working landscape, we believe it's crucial to embrace change, evolve our farming practices and management approach, and respond to the challenges and opportunities of the economic, commercial, societal and environmental context.

We also believe that it is our responsibility to communicate our actions and aims to those who are also connected to the land, and hope that by sharing this film we can engage with both a local and wider audience about our determination to create a sustainable future.

You can read more about our current wood-pasture creation scheme and find out how you can get involved here.

Matson Ground Farm has been run organically since 2000 with careful, sustainable principles at its core.

Managed by Matson Ground Estate Company for over 100 years, we look after 500 hectares of farmland and woodland surrounding Windermere and 150 hectares at Braesteads Farm, near Patterdale.

The farm is an upland pasture based system, which means livestock graze outside all year round, where possible. Stocking numbers are at a level that allows flora and fauna to thrive, whilst producing a sustainable red meat product from the sheep and cattle.

Agri-environment schemes, funded through DEFRA, provide a way for the farm to create and enhance biodiverse habitat, which not only benefits the ecosystems in it but the wider farm and the livestock around it.

New wetland areas have been created in fields that were prone to flooding during periods of high rainfall. Nature soon moved in and these became the perfect habitat for birds, invertebrates, frogs and fish, as well as slowing the flow of water through the catchment.

Other projects underway on the farm are working to extend habitat for curlews, high brown fritillary butterflies, great crested newts and woodland pasture creation.