Our Produce

As a well diversified farm we grow plenty of different crops as well as having some wonderful holiday lets in the old Victorian buildings on the estate www.whiteheronproperties.com and making our delicious fruit liqueurs at www.whiteherondrinks.co.uk.

The main part of our business is chickens which are grown for the supermarkets across the UK.

We also grow a variety of other crops with our largest being blackcurrants which as well as supplying our own brand Cassis at White Heron Drinks we have also been a supplier to Ribena for over 70 years.

Our apples are sent to Bulmers and Aspalls to make their delicious ciders.  We have around 60 acres of apples producing around 1400 tonnes and this is from 18840 trees.

Our arable crops are grown in a joint venture with three neighbouring farmers.  This is cost-effective and means that we never need worry specifically about when we plant, or when the combine arrives as we split the returns pro-rata across all three farms.

Excitingly in 2020, we also planted 30 acres of vines which we grow under contract to British winemaking company. Now available for purchase on White Heron Drinks!

Poultry Farms

We have a large number of sheds where we have around 650,000 birds on the ground at any one time.  We grow under an "environmentally enriched" regime where the birds have space to grow.  They have perches to jump on and fresh shavings bales are regularly replenished as well as items to peck at.  Feed is automatically augured around the sheds, the water is on tap in long drinker lines, and most importantly they are kept perfectly ventilated both day and night.  We supply Avara chickens in Hereford being one of their larger suppliers amongst 100 others in the Herefordshire border countryside.  We take our responsibility to the environment seriously ensuring that we follow all necessary protocols.  These birds are all heated with renewable energy in the form of biomass.

Blackcurrants

We grow blackcurrants under contract for Ribena (up to 400 tonnes per year - 16 artic loads - 4 million berries from nearly 500,000 bushes) and are part of a Wildlife Trust Scheme as part of our arrangement with the company. We have been in partnership with Ribena since the 50s and as one of 40 British Farmers, we enjoy a great relationship with this company who work very closely with farmers to ensure a responsible production of blackcurrants from known sources.

Cider Apples

Our apples are sent to Bulmers and Aspalls to make their delicious ciders.  We have around 60 acres of apples producing around 1400 tonnes and this is from 18840 trees. These are bush orchards grown in rows so that all can be mechanically pruned, mown and looked after in order to give us the best possible yields. Harvest is in September and October depending on variety. We have 4 different varieties of bitter sweet cider apples.

Arable Crops

Our arable crops are grown in a joint venture with three neighbouring farmers.  This is cost-effective and means that we never need worry specifically about when we plant, or when the combine arrives as we split the returns pro-rata across all three farms. We grow a mixture of maize, oil seed rape, wheat, barley, oats, and possibly others, depending where we are in the rotation and keeping the crops in blocks.

Grassland, Woodlands and our Higher Level Scheme

For 20 years or more we have always been part of a higher level stewardship scheme. These schemes are where the grower encourages biodiversity through a series of measures as well as habitat improvements, capital schemes that can help with landscapes ponds or woodlands. We rent out our grasslands for low intensity sheep grazing and our woodlands are also part of a Premium Woodland Grant Scheme. With Ribena we participate in a Wildlife trust scheme following a 7 point action plan. We have a series of paths around the farm for our staff and for our holiday guests. There's plenty to see!

Vineyards

Our new vineyards are very exciting - 30 acres with three varieties of grape - Seyval Blanc, Reichensteiner and Madeline Angevine.  These German varieties suit the Herefordshire climate and will be sold under our own brand White Heron Estate; as well as under contract to Fitz wines who make a fizz using the Charmat method which is similar to prosecco. Our expertise in the fruit sector makes this a natural addition to our farm and we are really excited for our first harvest this season (2023). All aspects of this will be mechanised and where we can using common equipment with the blackcurrants and the apples.

Renewables - Chicken Litter burners

Although renewables are not exactly produce, it has become a very important part of the farming operation. The three huge biomass boilers supply a vital part in the farm operation. We can wholly heat our chickens (which require 34 degrees at brood) through their own manure. Using a technology which is an assisted fluidised sand bed the litter gets burnt at around 650 degrees and is then converted to heat through a heat exchanger.

Renewables - Solar Panels

Across the farm we have around 450 kw of solar panels. These are placed across the roofs of our poultry houses and will supply around 40% of our electricity supply to the chicken houses. In these times of escalating costs this is important to our business and essential for our carbon footprint.

White Heron Properties

As a further farm diversification over the last 20 years we have also added and improved our rental property portfolio. Housing many of our members of staff in farm cottages, we also have a group of old Victorian stable block buildings which are now converted into four properties to accommodate large parties or small; as well as a lovely Queen Ann farmhouse which is good for parties and family groups. Our team of housekeepers are kept pretty busy! Go over to Estate website to take a look at what's on offer (see link at the top of the page).

White Heron Drinks

Having supplied Ribena for many years, and also into other small markets for IQF fruit (Individually Quick Frozen) as well as a local juice making company, we decided a few years ago that we should also diversify into making our own drink. Whilst others were making gin - we decided to make our own version of that classic creme de Cassis as well as a Framboise - but very British! Flip on to our White Heron Drinks website (at the top of this page) to see all that is entailed in this popular drink as well as booking to tour on the Property website.