A new life in France – working the land

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Rolling countryside, a peaceful lifestyle and attractive land prices are tempting a steady flow of British farmers to France says Janine Marsh.

It may surprise you to know that up to 10% of farmers in parts of south-Central France are of British or Irish origin. A few years ago, the farming sector in France suffered a manpower deficit and the French government offered support to British farmers who were interested in moving to the Limousin to help revive its flagging farming industry. The cost of farmland being so much cheaper compared to the UK continues to be an incentive. And the fact that countryside is glorious, a lush green landscape of rolling hills, rivers and woodlands dotted with ancient castles and churches is the cherry on the cake.

It’s the beauty of this region, the least densely populated of France, that clinched the deal for farmers and artisan butchers Hannah and Duncan Nobbs. They sold their small farm in Devon and moved with their twin sons George and Freddie, pedigree bull Woodington Topgun, and 8 of their top breeding pedigree Angus cows to La Brenne National Park in the Indre departments, on the border of Limousin, to take over a 203-acre farm called La Perriere.

“Our lives have change beyond recognition since moving here in 2016” says Hannah, “it’s certainly not been easy, but it’s been a real adventure and we truly love it here, the way of life, the area, the food and wine and more than anything the chance to farm the way we believe it should be done – traditionally, with well cared for animals, not intensively reared, and producing food in a sustainable, responsible way.”

Duncan comes from a long line of farmers and Hannah comes from a family of butchers, but they almost didn’t become farmers at all. Anyone who has seen (Jeremy) Clarkson’s Farm TV series on Amazon Prime will know that it’s not an easy life, and Duncan’s father encouraged him to be something other than a farmer, so he trained as a teacher and moved to London where he met Hannah. When his father died, Duncan decided to go back to farming, it was a revelation, and he knew that it was what he was born to do.

The couple’s farm in Devon did well, they raised heritage stock, butchered and cured their own meats and farmed as naturally as possible. But, try as they might, they couldn’t expand, land was too rare and too expensive. On a holiday with friends in the Limousin, the couple fell head over heels with the peaceful way of life and the unspoiled nature of the area and decided that a farm in France was their dream.

It took them three years to find the right farm. “It was” laughs Hannah “an obsession.” When they first saw the farm which the sales pitch called ‘rustic’, the house was crumbling and the road was in a bad state, but the fields were thick with butterflies, it was wild but alive with nature, there were kestrels and owls living in the house. “The seller only used two rooms, he boarded off the rest and slept in a camp bed by the fire in the kitchen. We could see it was a massive job” she says.

They carried on looking but couldn’t get La Perriere out of their system. “It used to have a chateau which was burned down in WWII (10 July 1944), but the estate is still intact, it’s like a park, there’s a river, a lake, stunning mature trees, it’s rare land, very green, the natural beauty is outstanding, and it has a special feeling, steeped in history. It’s our home, but we feel like we’re caretakers it’s such an extraordinary place.”

Duncan and Hannah carried out a huge amount of renovation to the house and put their hearts and souls into healing the land, nurturing it to leave it better than when they arrived, to make the soil rich and pass it on to the next generation and they’ve created a thriving and growing business. As artisan butchers they produce all of their own dry-aged Angus beef and sell it via their website. “We now have 132 Angus cattle. We really care about giving them a good life, we look after them, so they look after us. Duncan oversees every aspect of producing top quality beef” says Hannah, “our order list keeps growing because clients always come back for more!”

“It’s a very different experience of farming in the UK. The local chambre d’Agriculture have been incredibly supportive, they offer free courses, financial support and advice.”

Now the couple are branching out. Hannah’s passion for sewing and collecting vintage textiles has inspired her to create unique items like cushions, bags and lavender bags (Instagram: shopjustlovelythings). And this year Hannah and Duncan are offering glamping pods to holidaymakers who relish the opportunity to return to nature and being at one with the land, sipping a glass of local wine while enjoying a spectacular sunset, and discovering a part of France that’s unspoiled and tranquil.

“We’re not far from Futuroscope theme park, close to the chateaux of the Loire Valley and to Limoges the historic capital of Limousin. But what really makes this place so incredible is the wonderful countryside, peppered with enchanting villages with rustic little bistros. There are vineyards, fields of sunflowers, and close by there’s a lake for wild swimming with a bar and restaurant. It’s really a little corner of paradise.”

Find out more about their fabulous produce via their website: laperriereangusboeuf.com

Janine Marsh is the author of several internationally best-selling books about France. Her latest book How to be French – a celebration of the French lifestyle and art de vivre, is out now – a look at the French way of life. Find all books on her website janinemarsh.com