Inspired to attract others into farming
Hope Pascoe has farming in her blood and is striving to share her passion for the industry through her retail enterprise.
Hope currently works on a beef and sheep farm and has just been named Young Member of the Year by the Cornwall Simmental Club. But it’s with her own flock of 50 sheep, Hope is aiming to make her mark as a female farmer driven to motivate others to join the industry.
Keeping it local
In 2024, Hope set up Little Legs Lamb Ltd, a company selling meat boxes supplied by her high-quality, pasture-raised livestock. She is keen for her meat to remain ‘visible’ and not be lost in the wider retail supply chain.
Being able to promote her meat as her own, Hope enjoys showing what can be achieved, and has found a niche market with her mutton, attracting plenty of repeat business.
“I’ve always been inspired by my father and current boss, wanting to do what they do, and I’m now trying to encourage others to come into farming using my ‘can do’ attitude,” said Hope.
Animal wellness
A focus on animal welfare includes raising her animals with respect and care. Grazed on open pastures, there is always shelter available for the sheep but says it’s the Charollais ewes more likely to need it during lambing than her hardy Herdwicks.
Sustainability is also central to Hope’s approach to farming. She has been using a regenerative, rotational grazing system since starting the flock believing grass quality is better without the use of applied fertiliser.
Hope admits she began building the flock just when fertiliser prices were at their height, which was a factor in her decision, but wouldn’t change now with the sheep doing so well on the high-quality pasture she can provide.
Farming in the right way
By combining good animal husbandry and sound environmental land management, Hope aims to provide customers with a product reflecting her family’s values of care, responsibility and transparency.
“I’m working really hard to help customers understand our meat comes from Cornwall and our animals have a good life,” she explained.
Hope’s long-term aim is to expand her meat boxes to include beef and to have her own farm.