Our unique cottages are located on the beautiful Treshnish Farm near Calgary on the Isle of Mull.
Wildlife friendly farming has been the focus of our farming activity since we arrived on this beautiful coastal farm in 1994.
Wildlife friendly farming
The farm has a flock of about 650 sheep made up of Blackface hill ewes, in-bye Cheviots and Herdwicks. Until October 2015 we had a small herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle when they were sold. From then on, cows from another farm graze here in the summer so we can continue to manage the habitats properly.
We won the UK RSPB Nature of Farming Award in 2011 which was in recognition of our wildlife friendly farming. On the occasion of our winning, BBC wildlife cameraman and TV presenter, Gordon Buchanan said: “I’m so pleased for Carolyne and Somerset Charrington. Treshnish Farm is a worthy winner of this prestigious UK-wide award. It’s a reflection too of the hard work of many other environmentally-friendly farmers on Mull and Iona who also go the extra mile for wildlife. This farm and many others are vital to the survival of our wildflowers, butterflies, moths and the famous Mull birds including corncrakes, white-tailed eagles and those all-important farmland finches and waders. What a place!”Working with nature
A careful grazing regime helps us to manage the land in a balanced and environmentally sensitive way. This enhances a wide variety of wildlife habitats. This management has resulted in a vast increase in bio-diversity which was acknowledged by Dr Tom Prescott, Butterfly Conservation Scotland: “The high quality of the habitat already present across the majority of the farm is also reflected in the number of scarce and rare species present, particularly plants, many of these being present at Treshnish in profusion. I have not seen such a diverse and colourful sward at any other farm or nature reserve in Scotland before.”
Have a look at another of our blogs about the farming we do.
Treshnish Farm is interesting from a wildlife enthusiasts point of view. There are many different habitats such as Atlantic Hazelwoods, wetland, herb rich grassland, upland moorland, peat bog, and coastal heath. The farmland rises from sea level to 210m (Cruachan Treshnish) which means that you can see a great variety of species without going too far!
High Nature Value Farming
Our sheep and grazing cows are a vital part of High Nature Value Farming (farming for Conservation and Wildlife). They create and help maintain the wildlife habitats.
We stopped using artificial fertiliser in 1996.
We were certified as an organic farm from 1999 to 2009.
Bio-diversity increases year after year.
No artificial fertilisers.
We rely on a system of FYM and silage rotation.
Members of LEAF – Linking Environment and Farming.
Quality Meat Scotland members.
Wildlife
We have detailed records of the wildlife recorded on the farm between 2006 and 2020 and we also keep a Farming Diary. Guests staying in our cottages can browse Prasad’s book (Birds of Treshnish and North Mull) in the Hub. (It is also available for sale at cost). Each cottage has a copy of ‘Treshnish Flora and Fauna’ to refer to.
The Haunn field (next to East, Middle and West cottages) was the donor meadow for Argyll in the Coronation Meadow Project (in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation) which was set up help restore and create wild flower meadows. This Project has ended now.
Farm blog
Long before the days of Instagram (2009) I started a blog to explain our farming story. Nowadays it is more photographs than writing but do have a look if you want to know more!
