Future-Proofing Farming
Tom Hooper’s Regenerative Journey at the Ebbesbourne Herd
At Manor Farm in Wiltshire, Tom Hooper has redefined sustainable livestock farming through a forward-thinking approach rooted in regenerative agriculture.
Over the past decade, Tom has transitioned his Ebbesbourne Herd to focus entirely on Devon cattle—valued for their docility, forage efficiency, and maternal traits.
Tom’s system combines low-input livestock management with soil health- focused practices. By integrating herbal leys, minimising nitrogen fertiliser use, and adopting rotational grazing, he has improved forage resilience, biodiversity, and animal health. His efforts include the use of a direct drill (Fenix) for precise, low-disturbance ley establishment, helping restore soil biology and structure.
Key principles implemented on the farm include:
• Minimal soil disturbance
• Year-round ground cover
• Diverse forage mixes
• Livestock integration for nutrient cycling
The results are impressive: worming costs have plummeted, forage performance has improved, and dung beetles and pollinators have flourished. Tom’s use of herbal leys such as sainfoin and chicory contributes to natural parasite control and nitrogen fixation, while maintaining animal performance with little or no concentrate feed.
Tom’s participation in local environmental schemes, such as Countryside Stewardship and the Chalke Valley Farmer Cluster, supports biodiversity and habitat restoration. With zero nitrogen now used on grazing land and ambitions for agroforestry and further biodiversity initiatives, his farm is a working model of regenerative, profitable, and environmentally resilient agriculture.
We are proud supporters of British farming, with Tom Hooper as one of our esteemed suppliers.