Native breed farmer and artisan produce expert Jan McCourt, sustainable farmer and regenerative agriculture consultant Tom Fairfax and ‘The Regenerative Vet’ Dr Claire Whittle are bringing their experience and expertise to the Board of Trustees of national conservation charity Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST).

RBST works UK-wide to conserve and promote the UK’s rarest native breeds of livestock and equines. The new RBST Watchlist, published in April 2024, can be found here. Dr Claire Whittle, Jan McCourt and Tom Fairfax join the Board of Trustees which sets RBST policy, agrees strategy and approves major commitments for the charity.

RBST Chief Executive Christopher Price says: “We are delighted to welcome Dr Claire Whittle, Jan McCourt and Tom Fairfax to the RBST Board of Trustees. They are each experienced and pioneering leaders in specialisms which are crucial to a thriving future for our native livestock and equine breeds. Claire, Jan and Tom are fantastic champions for our native breeds and for their vital role in a sustainable future for farming and land management. They will be a great asset to the Board and to the RBST as a whole as we continue our work to promote the opportunities native breeds bring for commercial benefits alongside regenerating the natural environment.”

Based in north Wales, Dr Claire Whittle is a farm veterinary surgeon and consultant to regenerative farming businesses as ‘The Regenerative Vet’. She has a postgraduate certificate in conservation medicine and was awarded a 2021 Nuffield Scholarship studying the benefits of regenerative agriculture on animal health and welfare.

Dr Claire Whittle says: "Having worked with native breeds in regenerative farming systems, I believe the conservation of these breeds’ genes is crucial as we look to address the future physical and economic challenges of climate change. I am delighted to join the RBST Board of Trustees at this key moment for farming and the environment, and I am particularly looking forward to supporting RBST’s action to promote the UK’s native breeds and the major role they can play in landscape and ecosystem recovery.”

Jan McCourt is chairman of family farm Northfield Farm on the Rutland/Leicestershire border which keeps native breeds including Pedigree Aberdeen Angus, and White Park cattle. He has kept a variety of rare breed sheep, including Greyface Dartmoor sheep. Formerly an investment banker, Jan is passionate about the value of artisan production from field to fork and he was one of the founding farmer-producers of the modern incarnations of London's Borough & Broadway Markets.

Jan McCourt says: "What RBST has achieved to date is extraordinary, and I am delighted to join the Board of Trustees to support the Trust’s valuable work. I have long witnessed the benefits of slow food and artisan production through smaller-scale farming with native breeds, and I look forward to helping RBST broaden appreciation for what native breeds contribute gastronomically and culturally, directly into people’s lives.”

Tom Fairfax farms organically at Mindrum, in the foothills of the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland. A pioneer in regenerative farming with soil health at its heart, Tom moved from continental cross cattle to a herd of pedigree shorthorn cattle which plays a key role in farming at Mindrum that balances commercial success with environmental restoration.

Tom Fairfax says: “There is a great opportunity for our native breeds in regenerative agriculture, with farmers seeking to match livestock to their ground and operating model. At this time of significant change in farming and land management, I look forward to supporting RBST in exploring new or changing roles for native breeds, and in demonstrating the important contribution to ecosystem services of choosing the right breed for the conditions and environment.”

Visit www.rbst.org.uk/trustees for the full RBST Board of Trustees.