Norton & Yarrow Cheese Set for Exciting New Chapter in Wales
We’re delighted to share some exciting news from one of our longest-standing Farm Step tenants, Norton & Yarrow Cheese. After nine successful years at Earth Trust Farm, Fraser Norton and Rachel Yarrow are embarking on their next adventure – moving their award-winning artisan cheese business to their own farm in Carmarthenshire, Wales.
When Fraser and Rachel first approached Earth Trust in 2015, they had a dream of starting a sustainable cheese-making business but faced the significant barriers that many new entrants to farming encounter – particularly access to land and facilities. Through our Farm Step programme, we were able to provide them with the opportunity to establish their business, offering both the physical space to build their herd and the support to develop their sustainable farming practices.
From those early days with just two goats, they have grown to become pioneers in goat farming in the UK. Working in partnership with Earth Trust, they’ve helped us trial approaches to sustainable farming to provide feed for their now 200-strong herd of Anglo Nubian goats. Their commitment to quality and sustainability has seen their cheeses win multiple national awards and secure places on some of the country’s finest cheese counters.
“We’ve been privileged to witness Norton & Yarrow’s remarkable journey from two goats to an award-winning cheese business,” says Simon Atkinson, Director of Green Infrastructure and Nature Recovery at Earth Trust. “Over the past eight years, Fraser and Rachel have built an exceptional business and we can’t wait to see where this exciting next step takes them. Their progression to their own farm is a testament to their hard work, creativity, and passion, and we couldn’t be prouder to have played a part in their success.”
Rachel reflects: “Through all of this, our partnership with Earth Trust has been hugely valuable. We are part of a community of other small-scale tenant farmers and people who care deeply about the land and how to manage it – and produce food from it – most sustainably for the future.”
The move to their own farm marks an exciting progression for the business. Their new site in Carmarthenshire will feature an upgraded milking parlour and expanded cheese-making facilities, allowing them to further develop their sustainable farming methods and expand their award-winning cheese range.
While we’ll be sad to see them leave in early 2025, we’re immensely proud of the role we’ve played in helping Norton & Yarrow establish their business and achieve their farming ambitions. Their success demonstrates the vital importance of providing opportunities for new entrants to farming, particularly those committed to sustainable agriculture. We look forward to seeing their business continue to flourish in its new home.
We wish Rachel, Fraser and their team every success in this exciting new chapter.