Author Profile

About Thisfarmlife

Charles is a mixed dairy, beef and arable farmer, working in partnership with his father and 2 brothers in Warwickshire. They milk 350 Holstein cows, using both conventional and robotic systems, which are housed all year round. They grow wheat, barley, oilseed rape, oats, potatoes and maize over 1300 acres, as well as having diversified into industrial units. Charles is married to Linda, a primary school teacher, and they have two children, Chloe and Henry. He also has a real passion for education, and helping people to gain a better understanding of the food they eat and how it is produced.

Now

The Farmacy Podcast: All About Pasture Fed Beef

Charles and Rachel talk to Nikki Yoxall, a beef farmer from Grampian Graziers in Aberdeenshire and Research Manager for Pasture…

Eat

The Farmacy Podcast: Episode on Milk & Milk Alternatives

Farmer Charles and GP Dr Rachel are joined in this episode by Kerry, a Nutritional therapist, and former departmental lecturer…

Now

What happens when a dairy farmer and a vegan film-maker get together?

Sick of the noise that drowns out the sensible debate around food production and diet, Cameraman Mark and Farmer Charles…

Farm

Step back in time with Farmer Charles

Take a look back at how things were done fifty years ago, compared to today, with beautiful archive footage of…

Farm

Then and now: Silage-making through the years

In this video, Farmer Charles digs out the family archive footage to show us how silage-making was carried out sixty…

How you can help keep wildlife safe, with Farmer Charles

Farmer Charles and his helpers show us why it’s important to take our litter home so we can keep wildlife…

How do cows produce milk? Dairy farmer Charles shows you

Cows are experts at turning food that is inedible for humans, like grass, and other waste from our own food…

What kind of beds do cows sleep on?

Farmers use a variety of materials for cow bedding, from sand to sawdust and shredded paper. The material is usually…

How to use science to make ice cream – with farmer Charles

Farmer Charles is back in the kitchen, this time to show you how you can make homemade ice cream. Charles…

What do farmers feed their cows? – with farmer Charles

What do you think cows eat? Chips? Grass? Beer? Sugar? Cows love grass, but it’s not the only thing they…

How to make butter, cream, and scones – with farmer Charles

Join farmer Charles in the kitchen where he shows you to make whipped cream and butter. All you’ll need is…

Making silage for the cows – with farmer Charles

Farmer Charles explains how he harvests the grass in the summer when it’s at its best and tastiest, so he…

Activity: Listen to farmer Charles’ poem, then write your own

Farmer Charles has swapped the milking parlour for his study to write a poem about his life as a dairy…

What’s it like being a dairy farmer?

What are the two main things that you need to be a dairy farmer? According to dairy farmer Charles, you…

The Cow Carbon Cycle – with farmer Charles

Farmer Charles explains how his cows and other livestock produce high quality, nutritious, healthy and sustainable food for people to…

Staying safe in the countryside – with farmer Charles

Watch farmer Charles share his advice on how to make the most of a visit to the countryside. He explains…