Sustainability and Biodiversity

Sustainable Farming

As the planet's temperature rises, we are all inclined to play our part in reducing climate change and making more environmentally friendly choices. With our produce being grown, harvested and distributed on the farm, we as farmers understand the important role we must play. 

According to the EEA, Agriculture accounted for 10% of the EU's total greenhouse-gas emissions in 2012. So there is no question that farms must consider a more eco-friendly approach to operating as a business. 

Thankfully, sustainability is at the core of what we do, and we have already adopted precision farming techniques to optimise the resources required to grow our crops! By making use of mother nature's elements, we have made huge investments in renewable energy. Across our fields, you'll find hundreds of solar panels and even a wind turbine that generate energy to power our warehouses and storage units. 

We reduce our tap water usage by using the most advanced and efficient watering techniques. Our multiple reservoirs across the fields collect and store rainwater, which will then be used to irrigate crops. 

Field Margins

To play our part in the battle against climate change, we have planted thousands of hedges and trees that will remove carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen. Not only are our trees and hedges helping the planet, but they're helping our wildlife too! Birds and mammals will utilise foliage and shrubs for nesting areas and food sources. This will also benefit our farm pollinators as flowering trees and hedge plants can provide an abundance of pollen and nectar when ground flowers and crops cannot. 

Biofumigant Mustard

This vibrant yellow flower isn't just a pretty face - it's a natural biofumigant, working behind the scenes to clear out stubborn weeds and pests from our soil.Last season, this onion field took a hit from a soil pest that wiped out most of the crop. Instead of turning to chemicals, we’ve chosen Biofumigant Mustard as a greener solution. Once broken down, this amazing plant releases naturally occurring, pest-fighting compounds, as well as nutrients. In a few days, we’ll be chopping it down and mixing it into the soil, letting this field rest and regenerate for the next 5 years before we grow onions here again. 

Green Compost Waste

We're thrilled to have partnered with a sustainable compost provider in Cambridgeshire (EnVar) to supply our farm with a new, green waste compost. It's made from green bin and food waste, stripping out any plastics, and is used by farmers as a soil conditioner on arable land (as well as a mulch by horticulturalists and viticulturalists). We've used over 600t in the last few weeks and are proud that we can we use a locally produced, green alternative to artificial fertilisers to improve the health of our soil and quality of crops. 


Credentials

LEAF

Our produce is grown under the L.E.A.F. (Linking Environment and Farming) protocol, the leading environmental growing programme in the UK. The LEAF approach is built around the whole-farm principles of Integrated Farm Management (IFM), which achieves a balance between the best modern technology and sound traditional methods whilst enriching the environment. Under the LEAF program, we as a farm have pledged to assess and provide for 4 species (2 being endangered) to up their population. Click here to meet our Four Focus Species and find out how else we are helping our farm's ecosystem.

Red Tractor

Our farm is also certified under Red Tractor, which is the UK's largest farm and food standards scheme, covering animal welfare, food safety, traceability and environmental protection. Being Red Tractor certified confirms that we give clear identification of our products throughout the supply chain to ensure full traceability back to our farm. It also ensures all our employees are fully qualified and have regular training to carry out their jobs efficiently.

GLOBALGAP

We operate to GLOBALGAP standards and collaborate with supply chain stakeholders to foster the global adoption of safe, socially and environmentally responsible farming practices. This is achieved by providing industry-leading, cost-effective and value-adding assurance and benchmarking solutions. We also qualify for the GLOBALGAP add-on, GRASP, which helps farms establish a good social management system.

Sedex

We have joined the world’s leading ethical trade membership organisation to promote responsible business, sourcing responsibly and improving ethical standards and working conditions within the supply chain.

BRC

We are BRC accredited! BRC is the British Retail Consortium that implements various campaigns within a retail space that support matters such as:

  • Senior management commitments
  • Food safety- HACCP
  • Food safety and quality management
  • Site standards
  • Product and process control
  • Personnel