How did we start?

I am a custodian of the countryside (farmer), not the best profession to be in, as most of the time we are selling our produce at a loss. Several years ago depressed by the state of agriculture, I decided to look for an alternative enterprise that I could use my existing skills on, breeding animals.

What about tortoises, I thought. Everybody used to have a tortoise years ago but since the ban on the importation of wild caught tortoises (good thing too) in 1984 there is a shortage. So I started reading everything I could about tortoises every night to gain the knowledge I needed. Then the slow process of acquiring breeding adults, building accommodation, then waiting for that first egg to hatch.