TATTON Park’s Red Poll cattle herd has been named ‘Best Small Herd in the UK’ at the Red Poll Cattle Society’s annual awards.

Beating more than 35 entrants from across the UK, the Tatton Park Farm’s herd took the gong based on its quality, uniformity and overall health and condition.

UK natives, Red Poll cattle are on the Rare Breed Survival Trust watch list. Tatton’s herd has been in situ for more than a century.

Sam Walton said: “The cows at the farm look incredible – we’ve worked extremely hard to ensure they are as healthy and well looked after as possible. We’re so proud to be collecting this prestigious award.”

Cllr Don Stockton of Cheshire East Council said: “This award is super news and without doubt, the result of years of hard effort.

"A huge well done to everyone involved. Tatton Park is a fabulous place to visit and I hope that this award will provide a further boost to the number of people that come to see what this great place has to offer.”

Judge Denis Jenkins, society judge for the northern region and vice chairman of the Red Poll Cattle Society, said: “I was particularly impressed by the shape, size and colour of this herd, and how enthusiastically they are managed by Sam Walton. It is clearly a herd which is moving forward with ambitious plans for the future.”

Tatton Elfin and Tatton Elderflower, this year’s calves, can be viewed at the Farm on weekends between 11am and 4pm during low season, and will be included in the Farm’s nativity scene as part of Tatton’s annual Christmas celebrations.

Next year, Tatton Park will showcase its farming practices further with the launch of the unique Field to Fork project – telling the story of the park’s agricultural heritage, how farming and food production has evolved and how it can help improve our lives today and in the future.