Seeing a herd of cows grazing in a lush green meadow is a iconic vision of British farming, with the cattle enjoying the open space and eating the fresh grass therein.

Whilst these fields of just grass can provide the cows with all the essential nutrition they need, pastures which are also rich in clovers, herbs, legumes and wildflowers – often perceived as mere weeds – provide a more diverse and, quite frankly, better diet for the animals than grass alone.

Why is it better? Well, these plants, many of which are deep rooted, are also rich in vitamins and minerals which they draw up from the soil below.

These native plant species exist happily alongside the grass, so it’s not a case of choosing ‘one or the other’, they just need the chance to get established and then Mother Nature takes care of the rest.

Compared to grass alone, these plants have much deeper roots extending further into the ground and help add much needed structure and offer support against soil erosion.

We’ve also witnessed first-hand how quickly these diverse plant species also become attractive to a wide range of wildlife, from the dung beetles and insects at ground level, to pollinators and right through the natural food chain to support owls and birds of prey.

We are all familiar with meat and dairy products being promoted with ‘grass fed’ as a primary marketing message – and why not, it looks and sounds great especially if, as we say, cows can get the nutrition they need from a grass only diet.

However, the reality is that these herds often need supplementary feed in addition to their natural grass diet and this is often manufactured cereal-based feeds or by-products of other food manufacturing.

The benefit to us humans of eating pasture fed meat and dairy products includes higher levels of Omega-3, lower saturated fat content and higher vitamin and mineral levels compared to grain-fed animals, particularly rich in vitamins A and E, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium.

Here at Park House Farm, our cows eat only a completely natural diet from foraging in our pastures or, during the depths of winter, straw and silage harvested from our fields.

This means that our cheese and butter come with a guarantee our cows have been fed a completely natural diet, hence we are Pasture For Life Certified.

You can find out more about pasture fed farming and further information on the benefits for both us humans, for animals and the soil itself on the Pasture For Life website.

You can also visit this page on the Pasture For Life website which tells you more about the Pasture For Life Standards, which we fully adhere to at Park House Farm.

OUR STORY

The Torpenhow Cheese Company was formed at Park House Farm near the village of Torpenhow on the northern edge of the Lake District, Cumbria, in 2019, with the aim to turn the rich organic milk from our Jersey/Friesian herd into creamy deep-flavoured cheese.

OUR REGENERATIVE JOURNEY

Witnessing first-hand how our cows actively sought and thrived on a more diverse diet was the very moment in time where we can say started our journey to gaining organic accreditation and committing the future of the land at Park House Farm to regenerative farming.

A Happy Herd

Our belief is that non-stressed grazing cows produce top quality creamy milk, which is the foundation to top quality cheese. Our lovely single herd of Jersey-Friesian cows enjoy grazing outside for over 300-days a year, with everything they eat grown here at Park House Farm.

Regular Range

These are our most popular flavours
and will be your customer’s favourites.
They are available all year round, giving
you confidence in what you can sell.
n sell

faf8f4hey are ava available all 

Premium Range

Our premium gelato flavours are the
cherry on top!
They not only complement our regular
range, but also offer a taste experience
that will keep customers coming back
for more.

you confidence in what you can sell.

Sorbet Range

Our sorbet is a dairy-free alternative treat
made of fruit and sugar. Perfect any time
of the year, but especially as a refreshing
treat on a warm summers afternoon. It’s
churned for a scoopable texture
and is less creamy than our gelato.