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Farmer Stories

Jon Thornes - Nature and farming working together across a 3,000 acre estate

England
Case Study
Crops
Livestock
Mixed
Organic

All imagery: Joannes Coates

The South Ormsby estate sprawls over some 3,000 acres of the gently rolling hills of the Lincolnshire Wolds. This enormous site is being farmed in a regenerative, nature-friendly way with biodiversity at the heart of the decisions made, and the person writing the latest chapter of its story is Jon Thornes.

Born and raised on a dairy farm between Huddersfield and Halifax in West Yorkshire, Jon’s ambition to run his own farm has been a long time in the making. After studying at Lancashire Agricultural College, he built an accomplished career in the dairy industry, specialising in milk processing and marketing. Yet, throughout his professional career, Jon nurtured the dream of owning his own land. When the time felt right, he took a leap of faith. A land hunter informed him that the South Ormsby Estate was without management and its future uncertain. Jon decided to jump.

Farming doesn’t just produce food; it shapes the entire environment we live in. You might eat three or four times a day, but you’re constantly consuming the air, water, and surroundings every moment of your life.

Jon Thornes

Jon was clear from the outset that he wanted to run an organic farm, with preserving nature as a top priority. South Ormsby proved to be an ideal site. “It was beautiful," he recalls. "There were lots of valleys, trees, hedgerows, and wildlife. It already had a good foundation, and I knew I could build on it.”

The comparative neglect of parts of the land actually supported Jon’s vision. For instance, holes in roofs had become ideal roosting spots for bats, with around a dozen British species present on the farm. To ensure they remain undisturbed during building renovations, Jon is installing bat boxes and bird habitats, allowing the mammals to stay. Additionally, around 160 acres of woodland planted by the previous steward provide valuable biodiversity. Approximately 150 acres of parkland are home to old trees, which Jon cuts to high stumps as they age and die to create habitats for beetles. Overall, the estate encompasses around 500 acres of grassland and 900 acres of arable farming, forming a balanced mix of productivity and conservation.

The farm is home to 150 Lincoln Red cows, which live outdoors year-round. In addition, there is a breeding group of 50 Norfolk Black turkeys, producing between 250 and 500 organic birds for Christmas annually. Another 50-strong breeding group of chickens is kept both for meat and eggs, contributing 200 to 300 birds to the farm’s annual output. Jon’s farm is certified by Pasture For Life, meaning his animals are entirely grass-fed or forage-fed.

Nature-friendly principles underpin every aspect of Jon’s farm. The grazing land is divided into two halves: one half is rested for an entire year without animals, while the other half is grazed rotationally in six-week blocks. During winter, the cattle are fed on bales taken from the rested grassland. The arable parts of the farm incorporate cover crops, which the cattle graze on in March and April, and a rotational planting system that includes clovers, beans, peas, grains and pulses. While the chickens and turkeys used to roam more freely, bird flu restrictions now require them to be housed in a large barn with access to grass paddocks. Jon is also exploring ways to introduce greater variety in grass stalk heights across the farm, enhancing habitat diversity.

These efforts have resulted in a remarkable level of biodiversity. Double hedgerows enable wildlife to move between woodland patches, while wildflower strips planted between the arable crops create havens for pollinators. Birds of prey, including red kites and several owl species, are regular visitors, and event the occasional white-tailed eagle has been spotted, stopping by during its travels between release sites on the Isle of Wight and Scotland.

Jon’s vision of farming and nature working together is deeply rooted in his love of walking and his passion for biodiversity. “When you’re walking, you see the whole picture of the landscape,” he says. “I don’t like fields of a single crop with no hedges, streams, or biodiversity. When I look out of my window on the farm, I want to see birds in the sky and an estate alive with rabbits, hares, deer, and foxes.”

By avoiding fertilisers, sprays, and excessive land passes, we take a lot of pressure off the environment. That’s when you start to see nature returning to the fields.

Jon Thornes

Jon has recently developed a deeper interest in soil health, which he believes is fundamental to everything on the farm - from cattle trampling it down without causing damage in winter to supporting the growth of arable crops. “We’re losing topsoil; it’s running off,” he explains. “Things are not as bad as they used to be, but we’re left with only a thin layer of topsoil, so we need to make the most of it. Everything comes back to the soil.”

Jon also draws inspiration from the rich agricultural history of the Lincolnshire Wolds. A 150-year-old map of the estate has guided his efforts to divide the fields into smaller parcels. The map also serves as a reminder of how much has been lost over time - and how much work remains to restore it.

“Presently, the farm has about half the fields it once did,” he says. “The landscape used to be much more fragmented, with a lot more farms and people working the land. We’re trying to reintroduce water into the environment because so much of it has vanished: ponds, scrapes, meandering streams... All in the name of tidiness. That’s also why people cut down dead trees and clear scrub from field corners. But those are the areas we share with other species.”

Jon is keen for people to visit his farm. He has built car parks for local walkers and installed a hut offering tea, coffee and toilets. He frequently leads groups on tours of the site, explaining his approach to farming, and he runs a children’s Saturday club where kids take part in activities like building bird boxes.

Jon acknowledges that farming “has a difficult story to tell” but he is clear about the legacy he wants to leave. “My story would be one of farming and biodiversity working together,” he says. “It would be about the farmer and the public working together, understanding each other. It would be a story of restoration - not just holding on to what's left but putting back what's been lost. It would address global warming and what we can do to make things better. We need more farmers explaining what they are doing, and we need more people telling these stories.”