Follow my personal journey as I attempt to start Beagle Rock Farms from scratch in the UK at age 58.
With a limited £20,000 startup budget (excluding land) and 5 years to make it work, this is a real, transparent mid-life reset.
From the initial decision and planning, through land search, setup, and daily regenerative farming life — every step, every win, and every challenge will be documented here with full honesty.
Chickens, Quail, and Rabbits for Fertility and Extra Income One of the core principles of regenerative farming is integration, ensuring every element supports the others instead of operating in isolation. At Beagle Rock Farms, soft fruits and bees form the foundation, but after months of research I have concluded that thoughtfully adding livestock is essential … Read more
Building Healthy Soil Naturally One of the first realities I faced while planning Beagle Rock Farms is that everything depends on the soil. I can’t afford to fight poor soil year after year with expensive synthetic inputs. That’s why regenerative soil management has become central to the entire plan. Regenerative farming treats soil as a … Read more
Starting any farm involves risk. Starting a small regenerative soft fruit farm at 58, in a new country, with a strict is even more challenging. While I’m optimistic about Beagle Rock Farms, I’ve been spending serious time thinking about what could go wrong. Ignoring risks doesn’t make them disappear,it only leaves you unprepared when they … Read more
he new SFI 2026 rules are finally here. On 2 June 2026, DEFRA released the near-final details of the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026, and the changes are more significant than many expected. For anyone planning or running a small regenerative farm in the UK, especially new entrants working with tight budgets, understanding these updates is … Read more
Challenges, Land Prices & New Entrants Farming in the UK in 2026 is facing significant challenges. Rising costs, extreme weather, policy changes, and an ageing farming population are putting pressure on existing farmers while also shaping the landscape for new entrants. This article looks at the current state of farming in the UK including the … Read more
A realistic 3-year roadmap for starting a regenerative soft fruit farm on 8–20 acres in the UK, strawberries as the core crop, PYO revenue goals, beekeeping, and artisan value-added products. Planning a regenerative soft fruit farm in the UK from scratch with a tight budget is both exciting and daunting. With a target land size … Read more
Practical ways regenerative farming can help UK farmers fight back against rising taxes, wages, and regulatory costs. UK farmers are under growing financial pressure. Government policies have increased National Insurance rates, repeatedly raised the National Living Wage, introduced major changes to Inheritance Tax on farmland, and sharply reduced direct payments. At the same time, farmers … Read more
What the Research Actually Shows Soil health has become one of the most important topics in modern agriculture. Years of intensive farming have degraded soils across many regions, leading to reduced fertility, poor water retention, and increasing reliance on chemical inputs. Regenerative farming is gaining attention because it promises to reverse this damage. But what … Read more
Discover the best soft fruit varieties that thrive in UK conditions while supporting regenerative principles and delivering strong yields. Choosing the right soft fruit varieties is one of the most important early decisions when starting a regenerative farm in the UK. The wrong choice can lead to poor yields, high disease pressure, and constant struggle … Read more
One of the most important questions anyone considering regenerative farming must ask is how the approach actually works at different scales. Many people assume that regenerative farming is only practical on small, hands-on operations, while others believe it can be rolled out across thousands of acres with the right systems. The truth sits somewhere in … Read more