Story perspectives

Somerset Dairy Plants Wildflowers, Cuts Milk, Boosts Cheddar

By Drooid · Sep 28, 2026, 4:04 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Tom Calver is converting six Somerset fields to wildflowers to diversify his dairy cows' diet.
He runs Westcombe Dairy in Westcombe, Somerset, and has reduced herd size to leave fields ungrazed.
Milk output fell, but his raw unpasteurised cheddar now has meadow-flavoured terroir due to cows' healthier gut microbiome.
The wildflower system costs more than conventional feed, yet chicory’s deep roots helped the farm survive drought.

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Story summary

Tom Calver is converting six Somerset fields to wildflowers to diversify his dairy cows' diet.
He runs Westcombe Dairy in Westcombe, Somerset, and has reduced herd size to leave fields ungrazed.
Milk output fell, but his raw unpasteurised cheddar now has meadow-flavoured terroir due to cows' healthier gut microbiome.
The wildflower system costs more than conventional feed, yet chicory’s deep roots helped the farm survive drought.