The Co-operative Farms latest news

Co-operative members and staff become Habitat Heroes to celebrate year of co-operatives

Mon, 21 May 2012 10:32:00 GMT

Co-operative members, staff, Area Committee members and local volunteers in Goole joined forces to take part in one of the first “Together We Can” environmental challenges, organised by The Co-operative Membership, across the north of England. The team of fifty volunteers came together on Sunday 13 May, at The Co-operative Farm in Goole, to learn all about how to be a “Habitat Hero” and protec...

'The Pollinator' - our FREE iPhone game

Wed, 09 May 2012 17:13:00 GMT

Our brand new free iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch game ‘The Pollinator’ is available to download from iTunes now! 'The Pollinator' is a bee sent back from the future to save bees from extinction. Your challenge is to move through three outdoor scenes - countryside, garden and urban - collecting as many bees as you can. Click here to download.

Construction starts on the Co-operative's new 'From Farm to Fork' project in Louth

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:00:00 GMT

An award-winning outdoor learning experience, called “From Farm to Fork”, is to be launched in Louth. Work is underway on the project, which will be run by The Co-operative Farms in partnership with Lincolnshire Co-operative, following an investment of £60,000. From Farm to Fork is an award-winning initiative aimed at schoolchildren to give them a greater appreciation of the outdoors and an...

Resident bat discovered at Tillington

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:30:00 GMT

The 50 bat boxes installed in summer 2011 on trees and buildings at Tillington Fruit Farms were checked for the first time yesterday and one small, furry resident was recorded – a common pipistrelle! Under a licence from Natural England, each box was carefully opened and its contents inspected; this was carried out by Johnny Birks of Swift Ecology, assisted by Hannah Roberts. Many of the boxe...

The Co-operative Group delivers solid results in line with expectations

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Preliminary results for The Co-operative Group for the 52 weeks ended 31 December 2011 The Co-operative Group continues to invest through the economic downturn Financial performance 2011 2010 % change Gross sales £13.3bn £13.1bn +1.0% Group operating profit £585m £582m +0.5% Profit before tax and member payments (equivalent to the pre-tax profit of a plc) £373m £396m -5.8% Net borrowings £1.49...

Volunteers begin pollinator count

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:30:00 GMT

The warm, sunny weather is certainly good news for bumblebees who are starting to look for nest sites to establish their colonies. You’ve probably started seeing some bees around yourself, and a lot of people at this time of year remark on the size on the bees that they are seeing in their gardens. This is because most of the bees that you’ll be seeing at this time of year are queen bees who...

A Co-operative Battle to Save Wild Birds

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:57:00 GMT

The Co-operative Farms has joined forces with leading research charity, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), to discover the best ways of feeding starving farmland birds during the leanest months of winter. Once the trial is completed, it is hoped that supplementary feeding will become an established option in Stewardship schemes and that funding will be available for farmers to feed...

Barn Owls Sighted in Super-Sized ‘Homes’ at Gloucestershire Farm

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:48:00 GMT

Two barn owls have been spotted in super-sized luxury “homes” put up on The Co-operative Farms’ Down Ampney Estate to help preserve the protected species. The two beautiful birds have been sighted in two of the three 10ft (3m) tall “Barn Owl Manors”, which were erected on the Gloucestershire farm as part of The Co-operative’s major wildlife initiative called Habitat Heroes. The Co-operative Far...

Habitat Heroes Help Water Voles Make a Splash Comeback at Goole Farm

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:30:00 GMT

Water voles could once again become a common sight in East Yorkshire after a project by The Co-operative Farms has shown signs of successfully protecting the species. Six new water vole populations have been found in the first full survey at The Co-operative Farms Goole estate, where a team of “Habitat Heroes” was set up earlier this year to help preserve the protected mammals. The farm at Gool...

Interim results for The Co-operative Group for the 26 weeks ended 2 July 2011

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Results in line with expectations: The Co-operative Group continues to invest and modernise Financial performance Financial and operational highlights Peter Marks, Group Chief Executive Contact details Financial overview Financial performance H1 2011 £m H1 2010 £m Group sales (incl. VAT) 6,891.7 6,950.9 Underlying Group operating profit* 275.1 308.1 Underlying profit before payments to and on...

Down Ampney Farm all of a flutter after arrival of feathered friends

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:44:00 GMT

The Co-operative farm at Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, is all of a flutter after the arrival of a pair of feathered friends.

Bristol pupils learn about pondlife during visit to Co-operative Farms

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:05:00 GMT

Budding David Bellamys from a Bristol primary school got their hands dirty putting the finishing touches to a wildlife pond at The Co-operative Farms’ Down Ampney estate . The year three school children, aged seven to eight-years-old, from Little Mead Primary School, Gosforth Road, took a break from the classroom to learn about food and farming as part of The Co-operative’s From Farm to Fork...

The Co-operative's Highland Court Farm produces its first fruit

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:08:00 GMT

The Co-operative Farms has produced the first stone fruit from Highland Court Farm in Kent - the latest addition to its fruit-growing operation. British Sasha cherries grown, picked and packed at Highland Court Farm , near Canterbury, have just gone on sale in Co-operative food stores, after The Co-operative Farms leased the estate’s five farms, pack house and cold store early this year The...

The Co-operative unveils groundbreaking apprenticeship academy

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:17:00 GMT

The Co-operative Group will today (9 June) launch the UK’s most diverse and ambitious Apprenticeship Academy providing 2,000 jobs over the next three years. The £9 million academy will offer young people transferrable skills, competitive salaries and qualifications - not just a job. It is The Co-operative’s vision that eventually all new recruits under 25 will be part of the Academy. The...

Co-operative revolutionises green education

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:03:00 GMT

An extensive, multi-channel green education programme that will revolutionise the way young people learn about sustainable and healthy living was unveiled today (26 April) by The Co-operative . From today, all schools are invited to join The Co-operative’s Green Schools Revolution by registering at www.greenschools.coop , which will give them free online access to a wide range of cross-curricul...

The Co-operative launches most radical corporate ethical plan and encourages customers to join the revolution

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:01:00 GMT

The Co-operative Group encourages customers to Join The Revolution as it announces the most radical sustainability programme in UK corporate history that will spearhead its membership drive and help build a more sustainable economy.

Heritage apple juice makes welcome return

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:05:00 GMT

A heritage apple drink, made from 1,000 varieties of rare apple varieties, is now back on sale in Co-operative Food stores after a successful launch last year.

The Co-operative Farms heads up the 2011 Oxford Farming Conference

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Co-operative Farms heads up the 2011 Oxford Farming Conference

Rising agricultural star is top of the crops

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 16:09:00 GMT

A young woman with a passion for farming and agriculture has been named “Rising Star of The Year” by The Co-operative Food , which employs just over 80,000 people. Lucy Mason, 29, from Hereford, picked up the award at The Co-operative’s Good With Food Awards, which celebrate the great work of individuals and teams across The Co-operative’s food business over the past 12 months. Lucy, who is...

40,000 children get lessons in food and farming thanks to The Co-operative

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 15:59:00 GMT

The Co-operative Group’s ground-breaking educational project “ From Farm to Fork ” is celebrating a major milestone after giving 40,000 children valuable lessons in farming, food production and healthy eating. From Farm to Fork is an award-winning outdoor learning experience, which began at The Co-operative’s Stoughton farm in 2005, in response to an increasing lack of awareness amongst British...

Britain’s largest farmer flies the flag for environmental stewardship

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:44:00 GMT

The Co-operative Farms , Britain’s largest farmer, is flying the flag for environmental stewardship as it extended its commitment to the Entry Level Scheme (ELS), which supports farmers in making environmental improvements to their land. The Co-operative Farms has seen measurable results from the work it has done on its farms as part of ELS, which has included reducing pesticide use and leaving...

Tillington fruit farm is on Countryfile

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:30:00 GMT

The BBC’s John Craven enjoyed a day of mellow fruitfulness as he joined apple pickers at our Tillington fruit farm in Herefordshire, to film an Autumn Special for Countryfile. The popular TV presenter spent the day getting to grips with harvesting on the farm’s apple orchard, for the special edition of the programme that was broadcast on October 31st on BBC 1. Farm Manager William Barnett (left...

Britain’s biggest farmer, The Co-operative Farms, signs up to be a ‘Promise Partner’

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:07:00 GMT

The Co-operative Farms , Britain’s biggest farmer, has signed up to become a “Promise Partner”, supporting the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) drive to help reduce death and injury in agriculture. The “Make the Promise. Come home safe” initiative raises awareness of common hazards and risks, encouraging farmers to think more about their safety, not only for themselves and their livelihoods,...

Co-operative’s new app lets shoppers see where their food is grown

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:14:00 GMT

The Co-operative Food is unveiling a new iPhone app that allows shoppers to scan items on shelves and instantly see the farms where they are grown. The Co-operative Food’s Grown by Us app, which can be downloaded for free, will be launched during the Royal Bath and West Show (2 to 5 June). It includes information about food and drink produced by The Co-operative Farms , The Co-operative Group’s...

The Co-operative’s royal assent for food seminar

Wed, 26 May 2010 10:30:00 GMT

The Co-operative Group is joining forces with HRH The Countess of Wessex to stage a seminar for local farmers, food producers and suppliers at the Royal Bath and West Show. It is one of a series of events at the show to build stronger links between farmers and food retailers, and will include presentations as well as a question and answer session. The Co-operative Farms , the UK’s largest farmi...

Grape expectations for The Co-operative's English wine

Wed, 05 May 2010 16:51:00 GMT

The Co-operative Farms is to expand its successful Grown by Us food and drink range to include wine, as it plants a vineyard on its farm in Gloucestershire. It will be the first time The Co-operative Group has produced its own wine, although it will be up to four years before the vines produce enough grapes for bottles to be available in store. The vineyard will produce an English white wine,...

Midlands success as The Co-operative Farms announces its award winners

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:41:00 GMT

A potato packing plant near Tamworth and a farm on the outskirts of Leicester scooped the awards when The Co-operative Farms handed out prizes during its annual conference. The potato packhouse at Langley Brook, in Middleton, near Tamworth, was named as The Co-operative Farm’s “Business of the Year”, while The Co-operative Farms at Stoughton Estate, near Oadby, as named the “Energy Business of...

Co-operative farmer wins top award

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:24:00 GMT

The manager of a farm in Herefordshire has been named the UK’s best grower of “top fruit” – fruit grown on trees – at a prestigious industry awards ceremony. William Barnett, who runs The Co-operative Farms fruit farm at Tillington, near Hereford, won the Top Fruit Grower of the Year title at Horticulture Week magazine’s Grower of the Year awards. The awards are the most prestigious in UK...

Taste of success as heritage apple juice flies off the shelves

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:57:00 GMT

The Co-operative is toasting the success of its new heritage apple juice, made from rare and previously endangered apple varieties, after the drink sold out within weeks of first going on sale. Ten thousand one-litre bottles of the Truly Irresistible Tillington 1,000 pressed apple juice were available in selected Co-operative food stores, each one made with juice from historic apples that might...

Herefordshire farmer shortlisted for top award

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:42:00 GMT

The manager of a Herefordshire farm has been shortlisted for a prestigious industry award. William Barnett, who runs The Co-operative Farms’ fruit farm at Tillington, near Hereford, is a finalist for Horticulture Week magazine’s Fruit Grower of the Year title. He will find out if he is successful when the winners are announced at the Grower of the Year Awards ceremony, in London, on 11 February...

Co-operative Farms MD looks forward to major conference role

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:30:00 GMT

The new Chairman of the Oxford Farming Conference, The Co-operative Farms Managing Director Christine Tacon, says she is looking forward to building on the success of this year’s event. To chair the Oxford Farming Conference is a great honour, and also a great responsibility, but it is one that I am really looking forward to Christine officially took over the role at the end of the 2010...

Perthshire farmer shortlisted for top award

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:43:00 GMT

The manager of a Blairgowrie farm has been shortlisted for a prestigious industry award. Douglas McTaggart, who runs The Co-operative Farms’ soft fruit operation based at Rosemount Farm, part of its 5,000-acre Blairgowrie estate, is one of three finalists for Horticulture Week magazine’s Young Grower of the Year title. He will find out if he is successful when the winners are announced at the...

Drink to Isaac Newton’s birthday, with juice from the apples that inspired him

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:55:00 GMT

Juice from the apples that inspired Sir Isaac Newton to discover gravity are among those included in a new heritage drink available in selected Co-operative food stores. These apples offer a real taste of British history, and many of them, like ‘Isaac Newton’s Tree’, have stories behind them. Isaac Newton was born on 4 January, 1643, and is said to have been inspired to discover gravity when he...

The Co-operative puts its own-grown free range turkeys on the festive menu

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:05:00 GMT

The Co-operative has expanded its popular “Grown by Us” range to include free range turkeys in the run-up to Christmas. “Grown by Us” is food and drink either grown by The Co-operative Farms, or made using ingredients grown by the business. The Truly Irresistible fresh free range bronze whole turkeys will be sold in selected stores with a “Reared by Us” label. It is the first time The...

Healthy cooking in classroom for Southampton children

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:13:00 GMT

Youngsters from schools in Southampton got hands-on lessons in healthy cooking, thanks to The Co-operative. The Co-operative’s mobile kitchen visited Upper Shirley High School, in Bellemoor Road – the south’s first Co-operative Trust School – supported by Co-operative members in the region. Children from Southampton’s Shirley Junior School, Hollybrook Junior School and Great Oaks School all...

Head of The Co-operative Farms to chair 2011 Oxford Farming Conference

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:37:00 GMT

Christine Tacon, Managing Director of The Co-operative Farms, will take over as Chairman of the 2011 Oxford Farming Conference. Christine will take up the voluntary role when the current Chairman, Heather Peck, steps down at the end of the 2010 Conference. The Co-operative Farms is the UK’s largest farmer, growing arable crops and fresh produce across more than 50,000 acres in England and...

The Co-operative adds carrots to its 'Grown by Us' range

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:37:00 GMT

Carrots are the latest addition to The Co-operative Group's range of produce grown on its own farms, as the successful “Grown by Us” label expands in the run-up to Christmas. Loose carrots grown by The Co-operative Farms at Blairgowrie, Perthshire, are now on sale in Co-operative food stores across the UK. They join a range of Grown by Us products – food and drink either grown by The...

Hat-trick for The Co-operative Farms at top industry awards

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:55:00 GMT

Farm managers from The Co-operative Farms won three awards, including the coveted title of UK’s Farmer of the Year, at the prestigious Farmers Weekly Awards held in London. Nick Padwick, manager of The Co-operative’s 4,500-acre farm at Stoughton, near Leicester, won the overall title, as well as being named Farm Manager of the Year. And Russell Armstrong, who runs the 3,600-acre Coldham Estate,...

Down Ampney farm opens its door to local school children

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:24:00 GMT

The Co-operative Farm at Down Ampney has opened its doors to local schoolchildren for the first time, and youngsters from Down Ampney Primary School were first to spend a day there. As well as opening the farm’s new classroom, converted from a former farm building, the children took part in The Co-operative’s innovative “From Farm to Fork” educational programme. From Farm to Fork, already runni...

The Co-operative prepares for more school farm visits

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:33:00 GMT

The Co-operative Farms is gearing up for more visits by children in the new school year, with around 15,000 youngsters having visited its farms since January. Schoolchildren visit the farms as part of The Co-operative’s “From Farm to Fork” initiative, designed to bring food and farming to life for primary school pupils. From Farm to Fork is part of The Co-operative’s commitment to engaging and...

MEP joins East Leake youngsters for farm visit

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:12:00 GMT

East Midlands MEP Glenis Willmott joined children from Brookside Primary School, East Leake, for an insight into The Co-operative’s work to educate and inspire children about food and where it comes from. She made a fact-finding visit to The Co-operative Farm at Stoughton, near Leicester, where she saw children from the school visiting as part of The Co-operative’s innovative “From Farm to Fork...

Local youngsters open green toilets at Leicester farm

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:42:00 GMT

Children from a Leicester primary school officially opened ground-breaking water-free toilets, built entirely from recycled materials, on a farm near the city. We could have just built a new toilet block, but we wanted something a bit different and that would be educational as well as setting a standard environmentally. The Co-operative Farm at Stoughton has built the dry toilets for use by...

New variety of potato produced by The Co-operative

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:53:00 GMT

Co-operative food stores nationwide are to stock a new variety of potato grown exclusively by The Co-operative Farms. “Pioneer” potatoes, named after the Rochdale Pioneers who founded the Co-operative Movement in 1844*, are cultivated by The Co-operative Farms at Coldham in Cambridgeshire. The new variety is ideal for boiling, sautéing or using in salads, and can be eaten hot or cold. The name...

More land for The Co-operative Farms in Cambridgeshire

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:46:00 GMT

The Co-operative Farms has extended its existing Coldham Estate in Cambridgeshire after buying a 92-acre farm nearby. It has bought Fourscore Farm, at Laddus Fen, for an undisclosed amount, having previously rented the farm’s land to grow crops. Coldham is one of 15 sites across the UK operated by The Co-operative Farms, part of The Co-operative Group. It is the UK’s largest farming business,...

Innovation award for The Co-operative Farms

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:30:00 GMT

The Co-operative Farms has won a prestigious prize for innovation at the inaugural awards run by Co-operatives UK – the umbrella organisation that promotes the interests of co-operatives. It won the Innovation in Co-operative Business Award, in recognition of its “ Grown by Us ” range that is sold in Co-operative food stores, at the first ever Co-operative Excellence awards. Produce sold under...

New £2m Scottish strawberry venture for The Co-operative Farms

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:49:00 GMT

The Co-operative Farms has invested more than £2m in its fruit-growing operation in Scotland by opening a state-of-the-art strawberry-packing plant near Dundee. It has bought a site at Longforgan, from Gowrie Growers Limited, and has installed state-of-the-art packing equipment to handle locally-grown strawberries for sale in stores throughout Scotland and across the UK. In total, the investmen...

Environmental qualifications for Co-operative Farm managers

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:52:00 GMT

Two managers of sites run by The Co-operative Farms have earned important environmental qualifications. James Taylor, who runs The Co-operative’s farm at Down Ampney, in Gloucestershire, and Keith Daly, who runs a farm near Ongar in Essex, have both completed a Biodiversity and Environmental Training for Advisers (BETA) qualification run by agricultural training provider BASIS. BETA training...

The Co-operative Farms announces its award winners

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:30:00 GMT

A farm in Leicestershire and a potato packing plant in Scotland were the winners when The Co-operative Farms handed out its awards during its annual conference. The Co-operative farm at Stoughton, near Oadby, was named “Business of the Year” and Bill Longair, Operations Manager at the potato packing plant at Carnoustie, near Dundee, won “Employee of the Year”. The Co-operative Farms is the UK’s...

Quality badge for Co-operative Farm

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:30:00 GMT

The Co-operative Farm at Stoughton in Leicestershire is among the first in the country to earn a newly-launched Quality Badge for Learning Outside the Classroom (LOTC). The LOTC Quality Badge recognises the commitment to helping children and young people learn more about food and farming by providing high-quality learning outside the classroom. The 4,500 acre farm was where farm manager Nick...