An enterprising Devon smallholder has introduced a whole new concept in understanding where food comes from.

Brett Varker, who farms the 50 acres Rowhorne Farm on the outskirts of Exeter, is offering the chance to renting one of his ewes for a season, choosing the breed of ram to cover her, monitoring progress through visits and then enjoying the meat when it is ready jointed, wrapped and labelled.

While a similar concept has been applied to poultry, “Grow Your Own Lamb” is thought to be unique and the first of its kind in the UK.

Brett, 48, who spent a 30 year career in IT and telecoms technology before buying Rowhorne Farm with his wife Angela in 2003 to produce lamb and eggs, said: “The main benefit of Grow Your Own Lamb is that it allows our customers to be fully involved from beginning to end in the production of their own meat.

“We run the farm in a warm and friendly atmosphere, which we hope will be enjoyed by our customers while they gain real insight into farming practices and where their food comes from.

“We see it as a way for them, of rearing sheep without having to own land on which to do it. Customers track the entire food cycle with the added benefit of considerably reducing food miles.

Grow Your Own Lamb customers can chose from four breeds of ram - a Hampshire Down, a Suffolk, a Texel and a Dorset Down - with a choice of six breeds from the current stock of 150 ewes. They can book free visits to coincide with tupping (when the rams are introduced to the ewes), lambing and shearing and the really keen can even camp on the farm and enjoy its breathtaking views and woodland walks, Mr Varker said that different combinations of ewes and rams would produce different kinds of lambs, but advice was available about what to expect.

He added: “The idea started when some friends visited Rowhorne and we discussed the possibility of being able to sit down to a meal where you have grown or reared everything on your plate. Until now this has been impossible for the vast majority of people no matter how committed they are to understanding the source of their food.

”We are aiming at a very wide market but we think the offer will especially appeal to families. It will also make a really good Christmas present but we’re considering banning customers from giving their lambs names!”

Plans are in hand to expand the operation and eventually to install webcams so that customers can keep in touch with progress no matter where they are.