The best of both worlds gained by returning home

Combining commercial management with environmental protection and wildlife conversation is proving to be a successful business strategy for one North Yorkshire farm. ANGELA CALVERT went to meet Peter Hutchinson.

Although native to Yorkshire, Peter and Janet Hutchinson had farmed for many years at Castle Douglas in Scotland, before returning to their home county eight years ago.

During their time in Scotland, the couple were solely concerned with grass and livestock but it was a combination of factors which provided an opportunity for this to change.

"My son, Mark, wanted an arable farm and I wanted to live somewhere with less rainfall, so we took the decision to move," says Peter.

Home is now the 500-acre Spikers Hill Farm, West Ayton, in the North York Moors National Park, just a few miles west of Scarborough.