The former owners of our farm kept ponies continuously in this field. The soil was left compacted, there was little grass growth and thistle predominated, especially around the edges.

A fifth of the field was covered in bracken. The pigs have removed the bracken, they’ve also lifted the soil and the grass and other plants have come through.

Importantly the grass growth is much longer than before, 10cm in places. There’s more work to do, but it’s a positive direction.

* I sell 100% grass fed hogget, free range pork and dry cured bacon from my website for UK delivery and in local shops. My farm is in Farndale, North Yorkshire.