Love It Local speaks to Purbeck farmer and vet, Emily Smith about her work and the futrue of farming in Dorset
Set against the sweeping Purbeck hills, Belle Vue Farm feels like a place where history, heritage, and the future of farming all meet. When Love It Local visited on a rainy autumn morning, we were greeted not only by an enthusiastic flock of sheep and a group of curious Belted Galloway cows, but also by the warm smile of local vet and farmer, Emily Smith—and her devoted sheepdog, Tank.
A life-long love of animals - especially Sheep!
Emily’s story is woven with threads from both north and south. Originally from Lancashire, she grew up among the farms and fells that sparked her lifelong love of animals. A specialist in sheep health and production, she moved to the South West for her veterinary career, where she met her future husband, Adam Smith, an eighth-generation Purbeck farmer whose family has tended these hills for more than 200 years. In fact there are four generations of the Smith family still living in Swanage! Today, Emily divides her time between her work with Synergy Farm Health and life on the family farm—bringing a dual perspective that’s as unique as Purbeck itself.
Wearing two hats!
Emily describes her work life as “the perfect circle.” As a vet, she advises local farmers on flock health, preventative care, and long-term planning. On the farm, she sees her husband dealing with these daily challenges first hand—juggling land management, animal husbandry, conservation work, business administration, and mountains of paperwork.
“It gives me a huge appreciation of what farmers do,” she says. “They are incredible multi-skilled people. And because I experience it myself at home, I understand how complex their world really is.”
Belle Vue Farm has also become a place where Emily can indulge her passion for rare and traditional livestock breeds—animals chosen not only for their quality but for the vital role they play in Purbeck’s increasing focus on nature recovery.
The future of farming in Dorset - conservation
Purbeck sits at the heart of one of Britain’s largest ‘super national nature reserves’—a mosaic of heathland, woodland, wetlands, and wildflower pastures. Here, farming and conservation don’t just coexist; more and more, they support each other.
This area is particularly interesting because of the diverse habitats it holds, and farming has had to develop and evolve to meet the many challenges these landscapes create.
“There’s a perception that food production and nature recovery are in conflict,” Emily explains as we stroll past a paddock of grazing sheep. “But the reality is, they can be beautifully symbiotic.”
She offers the example of the humble dung beetle—vital for soil health and an essential food source for local bat populations.
“Even the medicines we use for livestock can affect beetles, which affects bats. Everything is linked. That’s why I really think it needs to be a team effort: farmers, ecologists, landowners, and consumers. We all play a part.”
Emily adds that most farmers in Purbeck are natural conservationists. “Through my work as a vet I know that most farmers are happy to champion conservation and land regeneration. They are doing it anyway, and farmers who spend time outside tend to have a great appreciation for the wildlife and nature they see on the farm. If my husband or father-in-law turn up late for dinner or tea, they’ve probably been admiring a rare bat or an adder. We’re all nature enthusiasts really.”
Belle Vue Farm works closely with organisations such as the National Trust and the RSPB to manage and restore precious habitats — proof that livestock and biodiversity can thrive together.
And it’s not just farmers who play a role. Emily emphasises that locals and visitors contribute too:
“We all have an important role to play—respecting the landscape, putting your dog on a lead to protect livestock or ground-nesting birds, picking up litter, buying local, or simply taking an interest in what is happening in your local area. It’s all teamwork and every contribution counts.”
Rare breeds for a rare landscape
Belle Vue Farm’s conservation grazing programme centres on three remarkable breeds, each chosen to suit Purbeck’s landscape and the future of sustainable farming.
The Hebridean Sheep: One of Emily’s favourites, the Hebridean is small, black, hardy, and proudly horned. “These sheep are brilliant conservation grazers,” she says. “They’re perfect for heathland restoration.”
Visitors to Corfe Castle may have seen them nibbling scrub from the steep castle mound this year—helping preserve wildflowers and even protecting the structure itself.
“The sheep feel quite at home on the steep-sided mound at Corfe,” Emily laughs. “It’s the closest I can find in Purbeck to their natural Scottish mountain habitat!”
The breed is also prized for its dark, succulent, richly flavoured meat. Hebrideans grow slowly (typically 14–15 months) and are sold as older-season lamb or Hogget, valued for its fuller flavour and lower fat content.
The Poll Dorset: A classic white sheep with a dense fleece, the Poll Dorset is one of the few breeds capable of lambing in autumn. This aligns perfectly with Purbeck’s ecological rhythms: summer grass is scarce, while winter grazing is abundant. By lambing in autumn, the farm can produce seasonal lamb without compromising wildflower growth in summer.
The Belted Galloway: Perhaps the most striking animals on the farm are the Belted Galloway cattle—black with a bold white “belt.” Calm, hardy, and perfectly suited to open heath, you may be luck enough to spot them grazing RSPB land around Wareham and Stoborough, helping manage gorse and maintain delicate heathland ecosystems.
A new herd for the farm, Belties originate from the harsh uplands of Galloway in southwest Scotland, making them ideally suited to Purbeck’s own rugged terrain.
This remarkable animal is slow to mature, which means its beef has a special flavour and texture which is the envy of many other breeds.
Recently, the farm welcomed a new bull—Elvis, from celebrated Lake District farmer and author James Rebanks, a champion of sustainable farming. His arrival marks an important step in the farm’s breeding programme.
The vet behind the flock
Although many assume that lambing season is Emily’s busiest time of year, she explains otherwise.
“I work on a proactive veterinary model,” she says. “With good health planning, we actually reduce emergencies. Sometimes I barely get to see lambing at home—and I miss it! It’s such a magical time of year.”
Looking ahead
Emily and Adam are eagerly awaiting the first Belted Galloway calves next spring. The farm aims to expand its conservation herds, continue developing local supply chains, and keep promoting the value of buying local.
They also hope to return to agricultural shows after a quieter year (Emily recently had a baby), with their Hebrideans ready to shine. Photography, public education, and community outreach are all passions Emily hopes to pursue further.
“People are so interested in farming when they’re given the chance to see it up close,” she says.
Should we eat rare breeds?
It’s a fair question—but Emily is clear.“In fact, it’s essential. Breeding programmes produce both males and females. Not all can enter breeding herds, so selling the meat is what keeps the population sustainable. When you buy rare breed meat, you support the conservation of that breed.”
Buying local, she adds, is one of the most powerful choices consumers can make.
Weathering the cost of living crisis
Like many farms, Belle Vue faces rising costs—from feed and fuel to the end of traditional subsidies. One solution has been direct-to-consumer sales.
“All our animals are born, raised, slaughtered, and butchered in Dorset,” Emily says. “Our meat boxes offer great value per kilo, especially if you have freezer space. Buying local may mean buying less—but eating better.”
Her advice is simple: explore Dorset’s food directories, use local butchers and farm shops, and prioritise quality over quantity.
A secure future for farming in Dorset?
In meeting Emily, it becomes clear that Purbeck’s farming future is in thoughtful, passionate hands. Her blend of veterinary science, traditional farming, and deep respect for nature offers an inspiring glimpse of what sustainable agriculture can look like—right here on our doorstep in Dorset.
A taste of Purbeck: Belle Vue meat boxes
Belle Vue Farm offers three seasonal meat boxes, each capturing the flavour of Purbeck’s heaths and pastures:
• Poll Dorset Lamb (January–May)
• Hebridean Hogget (May–August)
• Belted Galloway Beef (year-round, subject to availability)
For details and ordering, visit Dorset Food & Drink: Belle Vue Farm
Dorset Food & Drink supports local producers across the county, helping residents and visitors connect with the fantastic food and drink businesses rooted in our landscape.
