Welcome to Holly Lodge Farm!
Hi Everyone, and welcome to Holly Lodge News Page. We are going to use this space to keep you up to date with the latest goings on at the farm, everything from the dog field to the cows! Firstly though, I would like to introduce us all…
I’m Emily and I’m the 4th generation of Warreners to work at Holly Lodge. In October last year I moved from the food manufacturing industry back to the family farm to help expand all the non-farming enterprises – Dad hasn’t got to worry about any dents in his tractors just yet! I’m 28 years old and have always had a love for the farm, since I was 9 months old standing in a sheep pen with my bucket of sheep nuts, I knew I was always destined to come back home!
Since being at home I have taken over the day to day running of our dog enterprises and also expanded our relationship with a London butcher, Turner and George, to supply them with some of our pure bred and cross Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle. Outside of the farm, I love country walks with my two border terriers Oscar & Dougal, and eating my way around good restaurants in Norfolk, Socius in Burnham Market being my fave!
Next up there’s Dad and Mum or Geoff and Lucy! They are the ones that have kept Holly Lodge moving forwards for the last 35 years. Dad manages the farm along with help from James and Harry whilst mum keeps the office in tip top shape! We are a mixed farm, with around 1000 acres of arable crops and 200 head of cattle. We are also in our 15th year of stewardship agreements, with 23km of grass margins buffering watercourses and hedgerows, which aid the development of birds and other wildlife.
Our farm mainly grows wheat, barley and oilseed rape which are used in the production of bread, biscuits, malting for lager and vegetable oil. Our cattle are brought in at a young age to be fattened and sold on to major retailers in the UK as well as our London clients. Over the years, Dad has ensured that the farm meets the highest of farming standards including Red Tractor Farm Assurance. The arable land and our animal welfare are super important to us and dad’s passion for British farming shows massively in the quality of the produce we grow.
With the current farming climate undergoing immense change, Mum and Dad made the brave decision back in April 2018 to diversify into non-agricultural activities. This is where Holly Lodge Dog Field was born! I must admit, total praise must go to mother as it was her idea and we all thought she was mad! Two years down the line and we now have a successful secure dog field business that we absolutely LOVE! It gives us great pleasure to see owners with their dogs enjoying the feeling of running around in a safe and secure environment in the middle of the countryside. Our space is something that we may be guilty of taking for granted and it is fabulous to share it with everyone.
Hopefully this gives you a little introduction to us and what we do, and of course I will be creating some more blog posts in the future to delve a little further into our different enterprises. For now, there is only one thing left to do and that’s to introduce the motley crew that is Oscar, Dougal, Dill & Basil! Our full of character, sometimes obedient, pack of hounds that keep us smiling come rain or shine!
