ABOUT THE FARM
ABOUT THE FARM
Alterra Farms is an 800-acre working farm celebrated for its dedication to food production and its pioneering commitment to regenerative agriculture.
Alterra Farms is an 800-acre working farm celebrated for its dedication to food production and its pioneering commitment to regenerative agriculture.
A FAMILY LEGACY
Established in 2011 by Alastair Kerr, Alterra Farms emerged following the restructuring of William Kerr Farms Ltd—the original family farming business founded by Alastair’s late grandfather in 1939.
The farm is home to Ali, his wife Sian, and their three young children: Poppy, Freddie, and Bluebell. Together, they embrace the farm’s heritage while steering it towards a sustainable future.
A FAMILY LEGACY
Established in 2011 by Alastair Kerr, Alterra Farms emerged following the restructuring of William Kerr Farms Ltd—the original family farming business founded by Alastair’s late grandfather in 1939.
The farm is home to Ali, his wife Sian, and their three young children: Poppy, Freddie, and Bluebell. Together, they embrace the farm’s heritage while steering it towards a sustainable future.
SUSTAINABILITY AT THE CORE
Sustainability lies at the heart of Alterra Farms. Alastair and his team are committed to understanding the farm’s baseline in soil health, carbon storage, and biodiversity. They aim to achieve net-zero emissions while improving soil quality, reducing pesticide use, and boosting wildlife populations. Their vision ensures the farm thrives for future generations, staying true to its values of regeneration and conservation.
SUSTAINABILITY AT THE CORE
Sustainability lies at the heart of Alterra Farms. Alastair and his team are committed to understanding the farm’s baseline in soil health, carbon storage, and biodiversity. They aim to achieve net-zero emissions while improving soil quality, reducing pesticide use, and boosting wildlife populations. Their vision ensures the farm thrives for future generations, staying true to its values of regeneration and conservation.
HISTORY
HISTORY
The Kerr family has farmed at Easton since 1939, when Alastair’s grandfather, Willie Kerr, moved from Ayrshire, Scotland, to establish himself as a tenant farmer in Suffolk. Over time, the farm expanded under Willie and later expanded by his son, John Kerr, housing two dairy farms and inventing the Kerr curved tooth harrow.
In 1972, Willie helped form the Suffolk Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and introduced the Kerr Cup to honour farms excelling in conservation. This initiative was ground breaking at a time when conservation was not widely regarded as integral to farming practices. Beyond farming, Willie and John Kerr were deeply involved with Ipswich Town Football Club. Both served as directors, and John held the position of chairman during the club’s promotion to the Premier League in 1992.
The Kerr family has farmed at Easton since 1939, when Alastair’s grandfather, Willie Kerr, moved from Ayrshire, Scotland, to establish himself as a tenant farmer in Suffolk. Over time, the farm expanded under Willie and later expanded by his son, John Kerr, housing two dairy farms and inventing the Kerr curved tooth harrow.
In 1972, Willie helped form the Suffolk Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and introduced the Kerr Cup to honour farms excelling in conservation. This initiative was ground breaking at a time when conservation was not widely regarded as integral to farming practices. Beyond farming, Willie and John Kerr were deeply involved with Ipswich Town Football Club. Both served as directors, and John held the position of chairman during the club’s promotion to the Premier League in 1992.
FARMING AT ALTERRA FARMS
FARMING AT ALTERRA FARMS
Food production has always been at the heart of the business, with the farm growing wheat, barley, oilseed rape, sugar beet, and vining peas. At one point, the farm operated two dairy herds with around 250 cows and a beef herd. However, due to the economics of milk production in the UK, these operations ceased nearly 30 years ago. While there is no commercial livestock on the farm today, there is a strong desire to reintroduce livestock at an extensive level in the future.
The low-lying water meadows along the banks of the River Deben provide ideal conditions for growing cricket bat willow trees. These are cultivated commercially, with cricket legends Sir Ian Botham and Sir Alastair Cook both previously planting trees on the farm to support fundraising efforts for Beefy’s Foundation. Learn more about the foundation at Beefy’s Foundation.
Food production has always been at the heart of the business, with the farm growing wheat, barley, oilseed rape, sugar beet, and vining peas. At one point, the farm operated two dairy herds with around 250 cows and a beef herd. However, due to the economics of milk production in the UK, these operations ceased nearly 30 years ago. While there is no commercial livestock on the farm today, there is a strong desire to reintroduce livestock at an extensive level in the future.
The low-lying water meadows along the banks of the River Deben provide ideal conditions for growing cricket bat willow trees. These are cultivated commercially, with cricket legends Sir Ian Botham and Sir Alastair Cook both previously planting trees on the farm to support fundraising efforts for Beefy’s Foundation. Learn more about the foundation at Beefy’s Foundation.
LOCATION AND WILDLIFE
LOCATION AND WILDLIFE
Alterra Farms is located in the charming village of Easton, within Suffolk’s picturesque Deben Valley, and is close to Framlingham and Suffolk’s Heritage Coast. Easton is renowned for its Serpentine (Crinkle Crankle) Wall, the longest existing example in England. Learn more about this unique feature at Crinkle Crankle Wall.
The Deben River runs through the heart of the farmland, creating a haven for wildlife. Barn owls, kingfishers, pheasants, partridges, herons, swans, woodpeckers, otters, bats, brown hares, roe deer, fallow deer, and Chinese water deer can all be spotted across the farm. This year, the farm has begun recording its biodiversity through a series of surveys, which will be published as they become available.
Alterra Farms is located in the charming village of Easton, within Suffolk’s picturesque Deben Valley, and is close to Framlingham and Suffolk’s Heritage Coast. Easton is renowned for its Serpentine (Crinkle Crankle) Wall, the longest existing example in England. Learn more about this unique feature at Crinkle Crankle Wall.
The Deben River runs through the heart of the farmland, creating a haven for wildlife. Barn owls, kingfishers, pheasants, partridges, herons, swans, woodpeckers, otters, bats, brown hares, roe deer, fallow deer, and Chinese water deer can all be spotted across the farm. This year, the farm has begun recording its biodiversity through a series of surveys, which will be published as they become available.
