Ann and Tony Jenkin are retiring this September, having farmed at West Penwith together for 48 years. They have enjoyed being in partnership with Cornwall Wildlife Trust, practicing conservation grazing with their longhorns and hosting volunteer events. Tom, a volunteer, went to find out all about the work they’ve done over the years, chatting with them in the farmhouse over coffee and biscuits. Ann, Tony, and Liz Cox (from Cornwall Wildlife Trust) spoke warmly about the joys of working together.

Thank you so much for all you’ve done in partnership with Cornwall Wildlife Trust. How long has it been?

Ann: 15-20 years, I should think. Liz has been visiting us for a long time.

Liz: I think we started coming out to see you in 2009.

Ann: She helped with all the farm environment plan and getting us into the Higher Level Stewardship scheme. She’s part of the family almost.

It’s not long until you retire now. How many years have you been farming?

Tony: 66 years I’ve been farming here.

Ann: It’s 48 years since we were married when we started farming this farm together.

What are you looking forward to when you retire?

Tony: Putting my feet up! No, I’ll look for something and do a bit of walking.

Ann: Not getting up early, especially when it’s cold and dark and the wind is coming against the window. I can roll over, lie back and go to sleep again.

Liz: I can’t imagine you putting your feet up, Tony!

What will you miss most?

Tony: The smell of a farmyard, I suppose.

Ann: The fresh air right outside the front door… but the time is right. We’re ready. Things have changed a lot since we first started. When I came here they used to do cauliflowers and vegetables, but gradually things have moved on and we felt it was easier to do dairy farming.

Tell us about the long horns? Are they friendly or should we keep a distance?

Ann: Well, they’re like all animals: some are friendly, some are more aloof.

Tony: We’ve got a bull who’s quite friendly!

Ann: They were taken on as part of the Higher Level Stewardship scheme as rare native breed cattle. We just thought they looked right on the West Penwith moorland: they look quite prehistoric.

Liz: They’re used for conservation grazing as they do well on this kind of heathland.

How did you get involved in conservation grazing?

Ann: It was about 1989… I think it was a chap from Defra who instigated it, thinking that if the West Penwith moors weren’t looked after they would be ploughed up. There was a 99% take up locally and that saved West Penwith. We made improvements: the hedges were built properly, gateways put up… that set West Penwith off as a good environmentally sensitive area. We joined then and have been in some scheme or other ever since.

Liz: Yes, we first met to get you into that Higher Level Stewardship scheme as it’s all about getting grazing up on the moors.

What does conservation grazing involve?

Ann: I don’t suppose we’d have had the long horns if it wasn’t for that scheme. We also have to trim certain places, but leave others wild. We watch out for animals and birds.

Liz: In all of the schemes you need to look out for what areas of habitat you’ve got. Here there are amazing areas of heathlands, lovely wetlands (which I’m always really excited about) and it’s about taking the opportunities to manage those and find the perfect stock for them.

What about the volunteer events you’ve hosted?

Ann: Well, we’ve attended several that Liz and Jan from Cornwall Wildlife Trust have set up and visited other people. Cornish farmers like to see what’s going on elsewhere! We also had a proper open event…

Liz: Yes, we had a heathland training day, meeting in your big barn and then walking onto the heathland to think about ways of managing it. And our volunteers have been out to you loads and loads of times…

Ann: That’s right – they’ve become part of the family, too. I always find a tin of biscuits for them. We love to see everybody come. It works so well. Liz and Jan have been marvellous for us.

We are hugely grateful for all that Tony and Ann have done at West Penwith, helping that part of Cornwall to be a place where nature thrives. We wish them a long and happy retirement. If you would like to find out more about Upstream thinking head to the web page here.