Bennetts Farms is a traditional family farming business on the edge of Worcester. Our main business is to produce milk from our pedigree herd of Holstein dairy cows. In 2020 we launched a new milk delivery service to local areas, taking milk that we produce, pasteurise and bottle straight to the front doors of our local community. We also rear beef, so keep an eye out for when our next beef boxes will be available for purchase and free local delivery. In 2014 we opened a glamping site on the farm, offering glamping staycations and weddings – visit our website for more details www.worcesterglamping.co.uk. And in 2021 we opened a farm cafe and events venue as a further diverisifcation project, Bennetts Willow Barn.
Our Farming Philosophy
As a commercial farm, what we do has to be economical, but we believe that our practices must be balanced with providing high welfare standards for our cows and a respect for environmental factors. We are looking into and adopting regenerative farming methods, to help improve our sustainability
We grow most of our cows’ food ourselves on our own holding – grass (fresh and silaged), maize, and fodder beet. What we do not grow ourselves is largely human waste crops, such as brewers’ grain from the beer industry, We use manure produced by our cows to help fertilise our fields, to help make them more efficient.
In the summer months our dairy herd and most of the youngstock spend most, if not all, of their time out grazing. When they are not outdoors, our animals are housed in warm, dry sheds.
We take part in countryside stewardship schemes, which help wildlife and our community better enjoy our farmland.
Did you know that if the UK were to feed itself for a year, it would run out of food in August? With populations rising around the world, we believe that farming must be smart if enough food is to be produced without detrimentally impacting the environment. We believe that farmers have a responsibilty to maximise the output from their farmland, whilst balancing this obligation with environmental and welfare factors.
We have therefore chosen not to adopt the organic ideology. If we adopted organic methods we would only be able to produce about 60% of what we are able to do now – our grazing would not be as productive, and we would not be able to grow fodder beet or maize ourselves. We also want to be able to give our cows any medical treatment they may require, and the organic system does place some restraints on medicinal uses.
Our History
In 1918 Robert Bennett purchased Manor Farm on the flood plains of the Rivers Severn and Teme. One of eight children from a smallholding in St Ives, Cornwall, Robert moved to the South East to support himself and began work in the dairy business. He set up his own dairy in Tottenham whilst keeping cows in West Ham. After the war, he decided to move his family away from London and relocated to Worcester.
Robert’s son Thomas (known as Stanley) developed the farm business, who in turn bequeathed the farm to his son, John. John and his wife, Ruth, continued to develop the farming business. They ventured into exciting new areas, such as the production of semi-skimmed milk. They also opened Bennetts Farm Park, which was a popular local attraction and is remembered fondly by many local families today.
The farm is now run by the fourth and fifth generations, Christopher and his son, Tristan. Tristan returned home to the farm in 2012 and has expanded the dairy herd and added on a beef finishing unit, and is keen in developing the farm’s focus on regenerative agriculture. Tristan and his wife Stef brought the Bennetts Farms milk round back in 2020, delivering the farm’s milk to the local community for the first time since 1995. Their young sons are never far from his side and it is hoped that we may well have a sixth generation of Bennetts farming at Manor Farm in years to come.
Christopher’s brother Duncan operates an ice cream business at a factory on the main farm site using our milk to produce the delicious and famous Bennetts Ice Cream. Using only the best natural ingredients, Bennetts Ice Cream is a truly delicious dessert, and one which we are proud to be a part of.
