Ynysau Uchaf (Upper Island)

The beautifully scenic Dolaucothi Estate has been owned by the National Trust since the 1950s. It is home to seven working tenant farms supplying Sainsbury’s supermarkets with Freedom Food Welsh counter lamb for some of their in-store butchers.

Tenant farmer Arwyn Davies - whose father farmed the land before him - is proud to be a part of that co-operative and proud that they all produce their animals to RSPCA Freedom Food’s higher welfare standards.

RSPCA Freedom Food standards mean that we are seen to be totally open and transparent to our suppliers and customers,” says Arwyn. “All our lamb is traceable back to our farms and now with electronic tagging, it’s even traceable back to the individual animal. Our Freedom Food member abattoir, Dunbia, is just 12 miles away, meaning that travel stress for the animals is kept to a minimum too.

With four prestigious National Trust awards for fine farm produce and a True Taste of Wales award already under their belts, Arwyn’s band of co-operative farmers are going from strength-to-strength.

“We’re proud to be members of the Freedom Food scheme and the unique benefits that it provides for the farm business and the animals – it really doesn’t get better than that,” says Arwyn. “We’ve appeared on television, radio and in the newspapers, consumers really are thinking more about where their meat comes from and the way it is reared.

“Modern farming and consumer demands mean that we have to supply a quality product every time with the assurance that the highest welfare standards have been met – I believe Freedom Food does just that. The scheme makes you think very carefully about your individual and joint responsibilities as part of the co-operative and I think that can only be a good thing,” maintains Arwyn. “Each member of our group has a responsibility to the others to ensure that the very highest standards are met and that’s a very important factor in our success.”

A success which is taking quality, Welsh lamb from Freedom Food approved farms into the kitchen and dining rooms of many more influential consumers every single day.