Farewell to farmer Mike

It is the end of an era at the Countryside Regeneration Trust’s (CRT) Pierrepont Farm with farmer Mike Clear finishing his tenancy on March 31st, 2024. Mike and his family moved onto the farm in 2006 and have seen a lot of change at the Surrey dairy farm during the last 18-years.

When he first arrived at Pierrepont, not long after it was gifted to the CRT by the late Jo Baker, the farm’s Jersey cows were still being milked by hand. The CRT then installed a state-of-the-art milking parlour in 2011 that was opened by Zac Goldsmith MP on 12th April 2011.

Above: Mike (centre-top) talks about Pierrepont Farm's Jersey cows at an Open Day in 2006, shortly after his tenancy started.

The robotic parlour enabled Mike to modernise his dairy production, and the farm’s jersey cows still take themselves from the field into the parlour to be milked each day. During Mike’s tenure, the CRT has also been able to develop the business hub in the Old Dairy which currently houses a range of artisan businesses, including silversmith and jewellery makers designers, and furniture-makers and restorers.

Mike has always supported the CRT and our local volunteers during open days and events at the farm. He particularly enjoyed showing off the Jersey cows during school visits to the farm, and undoubtedly his enthusiasm and knowledge about dairy farming will have helped many primary school children better understand where their milk comes from.

“We’d like to give our heartfelt thanks to Mike Clear and his family for all the efforts they have put in at Pierrepont Farm over the years,” said Kerriann McLackland, head of estates. “Mike has been an excellent dairy farmer and supporter of the CRT for nearly two decades and we all wish him well in his retirement.”

Published: March 2024

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