PROFILE TC SHAW & SONS >>
didn’t know where their food came from. That’s why we’ve got on our bot- tles the grid reference and the field name of where the seed came from to produce the oil in that bottle. “It means more to the customer when they know where it’s come from. They can look at it on a map and find the exact location. We are also putting signs up telling people what we are growing in each field and this is what it makes.”
Education For children, farming can form an im- portant part of their education, says Mrs Middleton, who took the farm trac- tor to her local school to help teach the children about science, technology, en- gineering and mathematics during STEM week. “We are able to teach them that the fields they can see from the playground is where the tractor works – and where their food comes. We took a box of Weet- abix and a bottle of rapeseed oil to show them and they were fascinated. Due to be held in July, the farm walk will be an opportunity for older chil- dren and families to make a similar voyage of discovery. “Some local people live just a quarter of a mile from the farm – yet they’ve never been up here. “We’d like to show them what we do – we have a really well established stewardship scheme on the farm and I think it’s important that people re- alise farmers really do look after the countryside. “We do some voluntary bits as well
– we have loads of margins and wild flowers because we’re at the north end of the Chilterns. We’ve got the chalk downland, native grassland, wild bird seed mixes and legume clover mixes too.
Collaboration
Since starting her business with a natural rapeseed oil, Mrs Middleton has extended the range to include fla- voured oils, mayonnaises and salad dressings – a collaboration with chef Phil Fanning, of the Paris House res- taurant in Woburn.
The flour is hand-milled by Ray Kil-
by at Stotfold watermill. “The range has grown gradually and we’re hop- ing to develop some exciting new prod- ucts too. And now the children are a bit older I can do the farming and the oil – it’s a good balance.”
Cabbage stem flea beetle and pi- geons continue to be major challeng- es. The aim is to get rape in the ground early to combat the problem, direct drilling a mix of hybrid and conven- tional varieties into wheat stubble soon after harvest.
32 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2021 We haven’t actually lost any crop
but we have had quite significant dam- age. The pigeons are an absolute pain because we have a lot of woodland and the birds drop straight out of the woods into the crop.
Other crops on the farm include spring and winter barley, beans and oats for the first time in 25-30 years. As well developing new products, the plan is to see them sold in more places. “We are looking to go a bit fur- ther afield. We sell a lot down in Corn- wall because that’s where my sister lives and we started the company to- gether originally.
Excitement “We’ve got a distribution company down there who sell a lot to restau- rants and it is so good to see that they are starting to open up again after lock- down. We also sell some to the Luton Hoo Hotel, which is a stunning place. “There’s a real sense of excitement because that side of things complete- ly dried up for a whole year and now it is starting to tick again. We love do- ing collaborations and it’s great when
It’s important that people realise farmers really do look aſter the countryside
“
you are able to work with fellow food producers.” Lockdown meant a different way of doing things, adds Mrs Middleton. “I think people realised it was safer to shop locally – we even set up a click and collect at the front door, which was something I didn’t think I would ever do. “We got a little card machine and
people were more than happy to come here to buy their oil, salad dressings, mayonnaise and flour because they didn’t have to go to the supermarket – we met some fantastic people.” “We were very lucky – the farm didn’t stop obviously and we were able to carry on. It was very busy and the farm walk in July is a way of saying thank you to people for continuing to support us.”
CONTACT DETAILS
Web:
www.mrsmiddleton.co.uk Email:
info@mrsmiddleton.co.uk Twitter: @MrsMiddletonOil Phone: 07989 300959
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