Farming is more than a job, it is a way of life – it is a commitment to quality, provenance and community.

Traditional Farming

Animal Welfare

Biodiversity

Our Farmers

The Salt Pig is a proudly Purbeck-based business dedicated to bringing the very best of Purbeck farmland and coastline to the local community. From farm and sea to plate and counter, we champion exceptional local produce.

Traditional Farming

Traditional farming in Purbeck is shaped by heritage, stewardship and a profound respect for the land. For generations, farmers in this unique corner of Dorset have worked in harmony with the landscape, preserving its character while producing food of exceptional quality and provenance.

At the heart of Purbeck, farming has a strong sense of responsibility, to the land, animals and to the wider community. Farmers carefully steward their fields, hedgerows and pastures, maintaining the delicate balance that defines the Purbeck countryside.

Sustainability is not a trend but a longstanding principle, ensuring that future generations can continue to farm and enjoy this remarkable landscape.

Live like you will die tomorrow, farm like you will live forever!

Animal Welfare

High standards of animal welfare sit at the heart of Purbeck farming.

Livestock are reared slowly and naturally, with space to roam, graze and express natural behaviours. This thoughtful, low-intensity approach ensures animals live healthy, stress-free lives, resulting in meat and produce that reflect the care invested at every stage.

Sustainability and welfare go hand in hand, with well-managed pastures, traditional grazing systems and careful stewardship of hedgerows and soils support biodiversity while providing a natural, balanced environment.

Steeple Leaze Farm

Steeple Leaze Farm is a traditional working farm set in the heart of the Purbeck countryside near Kimmeridge in Dorset. Julian Cranton and his family have farmed these fields for three generations and it’s where the journey began for The Salt Pig. James decade as a shepherd there was the inspiration for The Salt Pig and proud that Jacob his son works the same fields. Jullian has been a strong advocate and supporter for The Salt Pig since the very beginning. Nestled among the rolling chalk hills that define this distinctive landscape, the farm combines long-established agricultural practice with a deep respect for the natural environment, creating a setting where farming and countryside conservation go hand in hand.

The farm remains a working beef and sheep farm, managing flocks of sheep and herds of cattle across its open pastures. Livestock are reared using traditional, low-intensity methods that allow animals to grow at a natural pace, grazing on rich-grass pastures that contribute to both their wellbeing and the quality of the meat produced.

The farm’s approach is firmly rooted in heritage and stewardship. Generations of careful management have shaped the fields, hedgerows, and grazing land, maintaining the character of the Purbeck landscape while supporting healthy soils and diverse wildlife. Grazing plays an important role in keeping grasslands open and balanced, encouraging wildflowers and providing habitats for birds and insects.

Spyways Farm

Hereford cattle are ideally suited to the Purbeck environment, hardy, docile and efficient grazers, they thrive on grass and forage, converting simple pasture into high-quality beef. At Spyways Farm, cattle are reared slowly and naturally, spending most of their lives outdoors where they can graze, roam and express natural behaviours.

High standards of animal welfare are central to the farm’s ethos and this thoughtful approach creates low-stress conditions that support strong, healthy cattle and consistently excellent beef.

Spyways Farm has a commitment to heritage, welfare, and sustainable farming, ensuring exceptional beef while protecting the character of the Purbeck countryside.

Wytch Farm

Farming at Wytch Farm in the Purbecks reflects a traditional, landscape-led approach to livestock husbandry, where heritage breeds and careful stewardship of the land go hand in hand.

Richard & Carol Pitman’s farming approach and love for this native breed and farming style have inspired us to start our own herd of White Park on our farm at Langton.

White Park cattle (one of Britain’s oldest native breeds) are exceptionally well suited to the Purbeck terrain, hardy and slow-growing, they thrive on pasture and chalk grassland, grazing freely across open fields, throughout Rempstone Forest and the surrounding Heathland.

The cattle are given space to roam, access to diverse forage and are handled calmly and responsibly. This extensive system reduces stress, supports natural behaviours and contributes to the quality and character of the beef produced.

Salt Pig Farm

Salt Pig Farm at Putlake is a traditional mixed livestock farm in the heart of the Purbecks, The farm is known for its carefully managed herds and flocks, producing exceptional Mangalitsa-cross-Berkshire pork, alongside goats, lamb and White Park beef.

Mangalitsa-cross-Berkshire pigs combine the rich marbling and hardiness of the Mangalitsa with the depth of flavour and consistency of Berkshire genetics.

Alongside the pigs, the farm rears goats and lamb using traditional pasture-based methods. Animals graze diverse grassland and forage crops, contributing to healthy soils and species-rich pastures. White Park cattle, one of Britain’s oldest native breeds, are also a key part of the farm, thriving on rough grazing and helping to manage grassland in a way that supports biodiversity.

Flavours, stories & traditions

From the landscapes of Kimmeridge, Corfe Castle and Studland Bay to your table, The Salt Pig tells the story of Purbeck through food.