Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2008 | Page 69

COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING

life

when needed. The farm currently supports
170 cattle and produces about sixty calves
a year. He keeps the best for breeding and
showing with the remainder being sent for
slaughter. The meat is highly sort after as
they are grazed stress free on natural grass
and is low in cholesterol and high in protein.
Michael is dedicated about his cattle and
farm. There are environmental surveys carried
out each year, to ensure that the methods
they employ, are moving the farm in the
right direction. Entomology (butterflies and
invertebrates), bats, birds and plants are all
surveyed with the results being published
on the ‘Wight Conservation’ Website. In the
seven years that Michael has been carrying out
surveys, he tells me about the marked increase
in the diversity and number of wild flowers on his
grass downland and through sympathetic hedge
and woodland management a large increase
in different bird species and population.
Although the main man, Michael is quick to
point out that he has a good team supporting his
ideas. Barry Issacson, farm manager and his
assistant, Shane, are employed in the every day
running of the farm as are a number of part-time
and seasonal workers. I spotted a large pile of
pulled ragwort, Michael takes his responsibility
very seriously and told me it had cost him over
£8000 this year just to employ ‘ragwort pullers.’
To find out more about Michael