From Hospital Wards to Highland Heifers: My Journey into Farming

By Chloe Lucas

If you’d told me five years ago that I’d one day be herding Highland cattle through wildflower meadows, I’d never have believed you. I come from a completely non-farming background — ten years as a paediatric sister in the NHS, working through the most challenging time of my career during the Covid pandemic. Yet now, I manage conservation grazing projects with my beloved Highland cattle, supporting biodiversity and community awareness of farming’s role in protecting nature.

Finding Farming After Burnout

My journey began in the toughest of circumstances. During Covid, I was redeployed to adult intensive care, and heartbreakingly, every patient I cared for passed away. It took a deep toll on my mental health, and I was eventually signed off work. I felt lost and exhausted, not sure what came next.

While recovering, I started watching programmes like Countryfile, My Farming Life, and Clarkson’s Farm. Something about the connection between people, animals, and the land really struck a chord. I developed this unexpected fire inside me — a longing to understand where our food comes from, what farmers actually do, and how I could be part of something more grounded, more real.

Learning from the Ground Up

I didn’t know a single farmer and had never set foot on a working farm, so I did what any determined newcomer might do: I started knocking on doors. I posted letters through farm gates, left notes offering help, even stopped tractors to ask if anyone needed a volunteer. Eventually, someone said yes.

That first placement was on a beef and sheep farm, and from there, I threw myself into learning everything I could. I travelled around the country — Kent, Norfolk, Devon, Essex — volunteering on farms to build experience. Over time, I learned to lamb, deliver calves, artificially inseminate, milk cows, and handle machinery.

It wasn’t glamorous, and there were plenty of days I doubted myself, but slowly, the confidence and knowledge grew. I realised this wasn’t just a temporary escape — it was something I wanted to build my life around.

Why Highland Cattle?

When the time came to start something of my own, I chose Highland cattle — hardy, beautiful animals that reflect much of what I love about farming: resilience, gentleness, and harmony with their surroundings. They’re perfectly suited to conservation grazing, thriving on rough grass and helping maintain habitats that might otherwise become overgrown or ecologically uniform.

I started out grazing salt marshes but moved closer to home a year later. Today, my small holding grazes two meadows through my local council as part of the Natural England Grazing Project, as well as privately owned land where the goal is to improve biodiversity through low-intensity, natural grazing.

Watching wildlife return to these areas has been incredible. The cattle’s selective grazing encourages wildflowers to bloom, their trampling creates varied ground structure, and their dung brings life to countless insects and soil organisms. Each animal contributes to a healthier, more dynamic landscape.

Bringing People and Farming Together

As my confidence grew, I wanted to share the story of my Highlands and the positive side of farming with others. I started hosting small meet-and-greet sessions with the public — opportunities for people to meet the cattle, learn about native breeds, and understand the link between farming and nature. It’s been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.

These events have helped build genuine community connection and understanding. So many people are curious but disconnected from farming — seeing it close up changes that. I love being able to show how farmers care deeply for the land, the animals, and the food we all rely on.

Being a Woman in Farming

I’m often asked what it’s like being a woman in what’s still considered a male-dominated industry. Honestly? I’ve never had a negative experience. I’ve been met with encouragement, support, and respect from the farming community. Things are changing fast, and more women are stepping into all roles — from livestock management to tractor driving.

Of course, hard work and determination help. When people see your passion and commitment, they respond to that. I’m proud to be part of this new wave of women showing that enthusiasm and resilience matter far more than tradition.

Advice for Anyone Thinking of a Career Change

If you’ve ever thought about working with the land — just go for it. Start small. Volunteer with local farms, especially during lambing season, or contact farm parks that take helpers. You’ll learn more in a day of hands-on experience than in weeks of reading about it.

Farming isn’t easy — it’s physically demanding, unpredictable, and often financially tight. But it’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done, not just for my body, but for my mind. Being outdoors, grounded in nature and purpose, has transformed my wellbeing.

I’ve now had volunteers of my own, and many tell me how positive and calming the experience has been for them too. Working with animals and nature gives people space to breathe, think, and reconnect.

Looking Ahead

I still have a long way to go — I am self-funded so I still work part time as a nurse and also at a farm park to help support my Highlands. I still have new skills to learn, more land to nurture, more people to reach. But this journey that began as an escape has become my true calling. My Highlands have given me not only a sense of purpose but a community, a healthier mind, and a living connection to the landscapes I love. We are also now expecting our first calves this year in June which again is another first.

If you’d told me during those dark months that I’d one day write an article about farming, I’d have laughed. Yet here I am — proof that sometimes, taking one brave step toward something new can change everything. I was nominated farm worker of the year and made the top 3 in the UK last year (2025) along with a nomination for the women in agriculture awards. I have featured in Magazines, been on the television and the radio as well as attending farming conferences to share my story. Dreams really can come true.

Bio:

Chloe Lucas manages conservation grazing projects in Wickford, Essex with her fold of Highland cattle. She works with both local councils and private landowners to promote low-intensity, wildlife-friendly grazing systems, while building community links between farming, food, and nature. She still nurses and also works on farm parks to help fund her highlands.

Follow Chloe’s stories on her Instagram account here