Ice-cream makers taking green measures on farm

A Northumberland farming family is combining a successful ice cream business with helping to preserve their local environment, with support from Defra.

The Maxwells are the brains behind the successful Doddington Dairy Ice Cream and cheeses, produced at North Doddington Farm, where they have been farming for more than 50 years.

They launched Doddington Dairy Ice Cream four years ago and have expanded it over the past two years with the help of grant from Defra's Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES). They enjoyed a busy run-up to Christmas and introduced a new flavour for this year, Apple and Cinnamon, complementing their other festive range of yuletide pudding ice cream and mulled wine ice cream.

The Maxwell's have also recently signed a Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) agreement with Defra.

Maggie Maxwell said:

"Business is really going well and we never forget just how fortunate we are. The farm is situated in one of the most stunning and scenic areas of England, with breathtaking views of the Cheviots. We are keen to do all we can to preserve and enhance it.

"Our CSS agreement is still in its early days, but we are looking forward to seeing the benefits, particularly to the birdlife on the farm, as a result of the specially seeded margins, the conservation headlands and bird/nectar mix plots we've planted, which act as giant bird tables.

"Our environmental consultant Harry Baker Cresswell has told us we already have a more diverse range of birdlife than he'd ever encountered, probably due to the mixed farming practice we've adopted over the years. But the agreement will provide extra protection for the habitat and the birds that live here."

The Maxwells are also planning grassland reversion with fencing to keep the cows off the riverbanks along the River Till, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). They are hoping to see a revival of the water vole habitat and have already encouraged otters back.

There is a thriving barn owl population and other activities will include an extension of the public footpath and rights of way. This will allow wildlife lovers and birdwatchers to walk across the farm to the river and see the ancient cup and ring markings, which are to be preserved as part of the agreement.

Maggie Maxwell added:

"My dad started the dairy herd here in 1950. Previously North Doddington had been an arable, sheep and beef farm, which is traditional for this area. Needless to say some people thought he was mad and only gave him a couple of years with the cows, saying he'd never make it with dairy here. He still finds it amusing that we are still here after all these years.

"We started making our cheeses in 1990, developing the recipes over four years before launching them commercially in 1994. Although it's still a small business our three 'flavours' - Doddington, Berwick Edge and Cuddy's Cave - are sold from London to Glasgow and with some even exported to the USA. "

Steve Pullan, an agri-environment adviser at Defra's Rural Development Service in the North East, said:

"The Maxwells are a great example of how farmers can run a successful business in an environmentally-friendly way. Through their new Stewardship agreement they are now expanding their conservation efforts to help preserve and enhance the varied habitats and the archaeological remains that can be found on the farm."