At Woodhorn, we believe that how we farm matters.
We are proud to be part of Organic Herd which is an organic dairy co-operative fully owned and run by farmers across the UK who share a commitment to sustainable and organic farming.
For us, Organic dairy farming and conservation go hand in hand as we work to produce the best quality milk and produce for our customers whilst working in harmony with nature to contribute to the environment, rather than exploiting it.
A few examples of the way that we work to support both our planet, and the dairy industry include…
Our Commitment to Sustainable Farming
We have been certified organic for 25 years which means that as well as producing high-quality organic dairy, we’re also creating a regenerative farming system that benefits us all, without having to ever compromise on taste or quality.
Our Dairy Herd
Our herd of 250 free range cows are at the heart of everything we do. Their health and welfare are our top priority and contributes to producing the best quality milk.
Our girls graze on the lush pastures around the farm for on average 235 days of the year and more grass equals more delicious milk!
When the weather is too cold and wet to graze, the herd comes into the warm barn where they all have their own beds….and plenty of ear scratches!
Protecting Critical Landscapes
As custodians of the farm for the last 142 years, we feel that looking after the land that we farm and work on is a huge responsibility.
Farming under the organic standard goes a long way to ensuring that we are working in a way that complements our landscape whilst protecting our planet and our cows.
Soil Health
Organic farming captures more CO2 in the soil compared to regular soil and as part of the organic standard, we are required to farm with a diverse crop rotation and to measure our soil health on a regular basis.
We have seen steady improvements in our soil condition over the last 25 years, particularly focussing on improving organic matter and the biodiversity of our soils.
Wildlife Conservation
Since converting to Organic farming methods, we have seen encouraging growth in the wildlife on the farm. Over the last 2 years we have been working with our local wildlife officer to monitor bat and water vole populations and to look at ways that we can enhance wildlife corridors.
We are currently planning an ecological survey which will create a benchmark to set future goals around wildlife conservation on the farm.
Reducing our Carbon Footprint
As a business, we have already started assessing our carbon footprint and will be using the ISO 14001 standard that we already employ to help set targets that we can work towards to reduce our environmental impact going forward.
One way that we have already started this task is the installation of ground and rooftop solar panels on the farm, with an aim to rely solely on green energy as part of our carbon neutral journey.
We feel incredibly privileged to do what we do here at Woodhorn and as a team we are committed to nurturing our land, animals and environment with regenerative farming methods to work towards a more sustainable future.