OUR STORY

About Matteo Nencini & Brawliemuir Farm

Hello, I’m Matteo Nencini, and together with my family, we made the life-changing move from Italy to Scotland in 2018. As an agro-technician with a deep passion for sustainable farming, I arrived here with a desire to explore new opportunities in this beautiful land, which I believe offers so much potential.

In November 2020, after a long search, we finally found our perfect home – Brawliemuir Farm. This was the beginning of a dream come true, as we now had the space to bring our vision to life. I started by reviving the farm’s chicken coop, introducing my first hens, and setting up a small but thriving free-range egg production.

As time went on, I turned my attention to the Hebridean sheep I had inherited with the property. I recognized the exceptional quality of their wool and felt compelled to explore its full potential. This led me to begin crafting wool-based products, bringing the farm’s unique resources into focus.

In 2021, I expanded my projects further by acquiring my first hive of bees and starting the production of honey – from rapeseed and millefiori to heather honey. What sets our honey apart is our unconventional extraction method: we use a manual press to preserve the natural integrity of the honeycomb, followed by a coarse filtration process. The result is a rougher, more natural honey, full of the pure characteristics that our bees produce.

In 2022, I added another exciting dimension to our farm with the addition of Cashmere goats – 9 of them, along with 5 more Hebridean sheep. This decision was driven by my vision to improve the quality of our wool, combining the hardy Hebridean fleece with the fine, soft Cashmere. This blending of fibers has allowed us to develop truly luxurious wool products.

In 2024, we took another step forward by introducing Valais Blacknose sheep to our flock, known for their striking appearance and premium wool. With this addition, we also began the production of luxurious wool rugs, crafted from the finest fibers of our sheep. These rugs combine the warmth and unique textures of Hebridean, Valais Blacknose, and Cashmere wool, offering a truly special product that reflects our dedication to quality craftsmanship and sustainability.

Alongside these animal projects, I’ve also been experimenting with niche crops, including artichokes, aromatic herbs, and various vegetables, which are currently in the trial phase. To support our bees and other pollinators, I plant annual flowers in the summer, ensuring they have a safe, pesticide-free environment to thrive.

Many of our projects and ideas are still in development, but every step of the journey has been an exciting opportunity to work closely with nature. The joy of nurturing life on the farm is what drives me, and it’s this connection to the land and its creatures that makes the hard work so rewarding.

Our Philosophy at Brawliemuir Farm

At Brawliemuir Farm, we are committed to values that guide everything we do: animal welfare, eco-sustainability, and a deep respect for nature. We firmly believe that it is both morally right and practically possible to engage with the environment in a way that does not exploit it – to raise animals without harming them, and to produce high-quality goods while staying in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

We are a young, growing farm with big dreams, and every project we undertake reflects our dedication to creating a better, more sustainable future.

 

 

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