HIGH on the list of success stories at the farmers’ market, Jess’ Ladies Organic dairy is one of the ever present stalls, providing so many of us with the high quality milk, cream and yoghurt we crave.

Pasteurised but not homogenised, the milk and cream have won several awards for taste and you won’t find many who don’t swear by their products.

The family have been farming at Hardwicke Farm for three generations.

Jess’ Grampy and Grandma (on dad Mike’s side) moved to the farm from Frampton-on-Severn in 1955.

Grampy Vaughan had been a tank commander in the Second World War and when he returned to Britain he bought three cows, which he named after his tanks: Bluebird, Gypsy and Glow-worm. Alongside the pigs he kept, and horses which worked the land, the Vaughan family farm was born.

Mike worked alongside and fully took over from Grampy in 1986 and continued his dad’s tradition of low input farming.

The family always wanted to avoid intensive farming methods, so it was only natural that by 2000 they decided to get full organic status.

They’ve always looked after the land and the wildlife whilst producing the highest quality organic pastures for their herd of 80 beautiful cows.

Rooted in tradition, the farm provides a wonderful habitat for wildlife which flourishes alongside the herd.

Amongst the residents at the farm they have countless buzzards, finches, songbirds, swallows, woodpeckers, and many beautiful barn owls, which are under threat in Gloucestershire.

Living alongside these creatures is a daily reminder of the importance of respecting the interaction between farming practices and countryside food chains and is proof that farming and the natural wildlife can live in perfect harmony.

In their view nature is best so they do not homogenise the milk, preferring to leave all its nutrients as nature intended and because ‘Jess’ Ladies’ graze on luscious organic pasture and the milk typically contains higher levels of natural omega 3. If you’ve not tried Jess’ Ladies Milk you should, it is a wonderful product.