Head of Regenerative Livestock & Grazing

Yorkshire Dales · 30-Year Nature Recovery Programme

A rare opportunity to lead livestock operations at the heart of one of England’s most ambitious ecological restoration projects.

Denton Reserve is a 1,011-hectare working estate in the Yorkshire Dales, currently undergoing a 30-year landscape recovery programme. Peatland, woodland, grassland and watercourses are all managed with one objective: measurable, long-term ecological recovery.

Livestock are central to this work.

White Park cattle, Tamworth pigs, Red deer and Fell ponies are deployed deliberately — the right animals, in the right place, at the right time — to deliver conservation outcomes that no other intervention can achieve.

This role requires someone who understands that instinctively.

Role Overview

Location
Denton Reserve, Yorkshire Dales

Contract
Permanent · Sole charge

Salary
£26,000–£30,000 + cottage

Holiday
32 days

The Role

This is not a conventional farm job.

The successful candidate will take full responsibility for managing livestock across the Reserve as part of a regenerative land management system where ecology comes first and production operates within those constraints.

You will oversee White Park cattle, Tamworth pigs, Red deer and Fell ponies across the estate, producing high-quality meat while delivering measurable improvements to soil health, habitat condition and biodiversity.

Stocking decisions, grazing rotations and herd planning must support the Reserve’s ecological and Natural Capital objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance

Maintain accurate livestock records and ensure all statutory and SSSI obligations are met.

Animal Health & Welfare

Maintain high herd health through a low-intervention approach that prioritises natural behaviours and preventative management.

Herd Performance

Deliver target growth rates and production outcomes aligned with herd plans and the livestock budget.

Meat Quality

Coordinate consistent meat supply with the Reserve kitchen and external sales channels.

Soil & Sward Health

Manage grazing rotations that support measurable improvements in soil organic matter and sward diversity.

Ecological Outcomes

Use conservation grazing to support habitat management objectives across the estate.

Forage Management

Plan and manage hay and haylage production to meet winter feeding requirements.

Forward Planning

Maintain a current annual grazing and forage plan, managing feed costs through proactive decision-making.

Team & Data

Use digital tools for livestock records and grazing planning, and coordinate volunteers or seasonal labour when required.

Who We Are Looking For

Practical Execution

A self-directed operator who identifies and solves problems early and works effectively without supervision.

Animal Empathy

A calm and skilled handler who reads livestock behaviour well and operates naturally within a low-intervention system.

High Standards

Someone who takes pride in the Reserve — equipment, infrastructure and stock always maintained to a high standard.

Data Awareness

Comfortable using digital tools for livestock records, planning and reporting.

Resilience

Confident working independently and managing a sole-charge role in a dynamic environment.

Regenerative Mindset

Genuinely committed to nature-first land management and regenerative grazing systems.

Essential Experience

• Sole-charge livestock management across multiple species
• Experience within regenerative, holistic or conservation grazing systems
• Low-intervention animal health management
• Grazing rotation planning and forage management
• Strong compliance and record-keeping
• Experience working within an environmentally sensitive landscape
• Comfortable directing volunteers or casual labour

Desirable Qualifications

• UTV Certificate
• DSC1 – Deer Stalking Level 1
• Game Meat Hygiene Certificate
• Telehandler Certificate
• Firearms Certificate

Candidates holding most but not all qualifications, and willing to complete the remainder, are encouraged to apply.

The Package

Salary
£26,000–£30,000 depending on experience

Accommodation
3-bedroom cottage on the Reserve at a nominal rent
(Estimated package value £36,000–£44,000+)

Holiday
32 days

Why This Role Matters

"This is a role for someone who sees no contradiction between exceptional stockmanship and genuine ecological ambition."

Denton Reserve is at the beginning of something significant: a large landscape project with long-term funding, a committed team, and a clear ecological mission.

The person who takes this role will have the autonomy, resources and landscape to do meaningful work — and to leave a lasting mark.

This is a flexible, self-managed role. It is not a Monday-to-Friday job, and the right candidate will understand why.

Apply

Please send:

• A CV
• A covering letter explaining why this role and this landscape matter to you

Applications to
Faye@dentonreserve.co.uk

Role enquiries
Bernie@dentonreserve.co.uk
07825 811260

First review of applications:
22 March 2026