| ATV
Polaris
Polaris and the Horned Beef Company
Polaris has provided The Horned Beef Company with the loan of a Polaris Ranger EV 4X4 electric utility vehicle.
he Horned Beef
Company is a
pioneering farming
scheme set up in
Cumbria by young
married couple
David and Bekka Corrie-Close, with
the support of local people, the
National Trust, the Prince’s
Countryside Fund, the RSPB and
Cumbria Wildlife Trust. The aim of
the project was to create an
innovative business approach to
sustainable, ecologically sound
farming, land management and
nature conservation. This ‘farming
with nature’ is part of a broader
ambition to produce food while
being involved in the drive to find
the right future for farming.
The couple began with bits of
T
rented land scattered here and
there in the Cumbrian countryside,
grazing beef in areas where no
crops will grow. Three years on and
they have taken it to the next level
with a National Trust tenancy of a
hundred and fifty acres near Kendal
and a number of other sites in five
locations where cattle are grazed
periodically through the year. In all,
they are caring for around 1000
acres of National Trust land.
“We have a mixed bag of cattle,”
says David, “from the Longhorn,
probably the most majestic, to
Highland, Shetland and Dexters.
The native breeds are quite rare and
we have to travel far to acquire them
and now we have a colourful herd of
very calm, naturally well-behaved
animals.”
52 | Farming Monthly | September 2018
The Polaris Ranger EV, launched
as the world’s first true 4X4 electric
vehicle fits perfectly with the Horned
Beef Company aims and ethos. The
advantages of electric power
coupled with its off-road abilities
make it the ideal vehicle for
managing the areas around David
and Bekka’s base, moving feed and
generally tending the cattle. It’s an
ecological blend with the
countryside, non-polluting, silent,
and requiring the absolute minimum
servicing.
“It’s an absolutely wonderful
vehicle,” says David, “covering the
exposed and rough terrain without
putting a foot wrong and it’s
appropriate to be moving around
the landscape without noise. It lives
at the farm and for day-to-day work
it’s far better than a tractor or big
4X4. We want to explore solar
power next for charging the Ranger
EV, we already use solar well pumps
and we’re keen to expand it as a
power source.” Before the arrival of
the Ranger EV the couple were
moving hay bales on foot, it being
the only way they could get the food
across the hilly terrain.
We’re pleased we can help with
the growth of this exciting
business,” says Ben Murray, Polaris’
National Sales Manager, “and we’re
confident in the Polaris EV being the
most suitable and ecologically
sound alternative for their farm.”
Polaris Britain: 0800 915 6720
www.polaris-britain.com
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk