Contributing to the community in which we belong is important to us – as individuals and as a business. At the heart of our operations is the land on which we’re located; Woodhorn Farm has been managed by the Pitts family since 1882. As a result taking an interest and supporting the local community in which we’re based means a lot to us.
As well as our work to champion gardens and green spaces with schools, charities and community initiatives as part of our Earth Cycle brand, we also work in and around our local area with regular support for handful of organisations.
Oving Youth Club Our local youth club meets weekly and offers sports, events and activities to young people between the ages of 9 and 16, who live in and around Oving. Residential activities are offered including overnight stays at Lodge Hill too. We provide sponsorship to the Club, to enable to team who run it to offer a wide variety of subsidised events, and regularly welcome them all to the farm for visits to meet the team and our cows.
The Aldingbourne Trust For many years we’ve actively supported The Aldingbourne Trust, a charity that provides care, support and employment opportunities to people with learning disabilities and autism in West Sussex. As well as funding the creation of a hedge maze at the Aldingbourne Country Centre, we actively support their thriving wood recycling enterprise and have provided bark chip and composts for their children’s play areas. Our owner John Pitts is also a Trustee, providing guidance and due diligence to ensure the Trust delivers on its purpose.
The Oving Cow Shed Our newest venture, through our Woodhorn Farm brand, has seen us set up The Oving Cow Shed – a milk vending machine at the Oving Jubilee Hall, so that our local community can buy the farm’s organic milk, along with produce from other local suppliers. Our arrangement with the Hall also means that we donate some of the profits from the Shed to support other community events.
Local Schools For our local village school, The March CE Primary, we’ve been delighted to help transform their garden with both materials and design help. In Chichester we’ve supplied some of the materials for the garden at St Joseph’s Nursery too. And on the coast in Selsey we regularly support the team at Youth Dream with their gardening and environmental therapy project, The Hidden Garden.
St Richards Hospital At our local NHS hospital a garden has been created, linked to the Donald Wilson Neurological Rehabilitation Centre, which is a specialist centre helping support adults with brain injuries to live independently. As well as supplying topsoil, compost and bark, our team got stuck in to help bring the garden to life too.
We’re very proud of all that goes on in our local community and look forward to continuing to support these amazing organisations during the months and years ahead.
The Woodhorn Business Centre, set in the superb West Sussex countryside, supports a diverse range of businesses. We’re home to more than a dozen companies ranging from management trainers and camper van hire to fabricators and architects.
When our owner John Pitts took over Woodhorn Farm more than 25 years ago, he was keen to explore ways in which to diversify the business. With a set of farm buildings no longer required for agricultural use, the decision was made to convert them, and the business centre was born! We now have over 27,000 square feet of mixed commercial use space, including self-storage units, offices, warehousing and light industrial workshops.
Today we are very proud to be supporting a fantastic group of local companies including:
Chichester Biltong – makers of premium biltong and home to the largest biltong drying facility in the UK and Europe
Growtrain – training company with a focus on the land based sector
Landcruise – motorhome hire specialists with a fleet of vehicles for rental
M&J Engineering – expert engineering company, offering solutions for agricultural, horticultural and other sectors
With easy access to the A27, both Chichester and Bognor Regis nearby and free parking, our commercial spaces offer a stunning rural location with views of the South Downs, plenty of beautiful outside space and our herd of Organic dairy cows often found in nearby fields.
Both of our West Sussex sites in Oving, the Woodhorn Business centre and Ham Farm, are highly sought after but to discuss future availability, please contact Kayleigh Akehurst.
Reflecting on what’s happening down on the farm, John Pitts, our owner and fourth generation farmer at Woodhorn, shares some thoughts about the farm’s relationship with Organic Herd.
Organic Herd is a farmer owned co-operative of around 100 Organic dairy farmers across the UK and we at Woodhorn have been proud members for the past 25 years. Organic Herd supplies milk to the likes of Yeo Valley, Wyke Farms and Kendal Nutricare baby foods. As well as being the only 100% Organic dairy cooperative in the UK, they are also the only supplier of milk in Europe that come from farms that never use antibiotics.
A year ago Organic Herd launched an own range of speciality cheeses, butters and chocolates. None of these are available in supermarkets simply because the big chains expect to take such a big percentage of the sale price that, after production costs, there would be nothing left to go back to the farmers.
So instead these products are available through delis across the country, stores such as Planet Organic and in our vending machine at Woodhorn Farm!
All products are made by artisan producers that fit Organic Herd’s ethos (“How We Farm Matters”), are made to historical recipes, are additive free and of course are made from milk that is certified Organic and antibiotic free. Cheeses are made using traditional cultures and matured in wooden boxes, whilst butters are cream tumbled in 1960s butter barrels and then hand salted and churned in small batches.
Whilst this might seem an Organic Herd advertisement, it’s simply another part of our story and who we are at Woodhorn, supporting all the things we are trying to achieve.
Morgan Davies is our Materials Recycling Director. As part of our meet the team blog series, Morgan shares more about his role and what a typical working day looks like.
I’m awake just before 6am, and head downstairs with the dog to sort the kitchen out from the night before. With my children old enough to get themselves to school, I’m free to head off to work just after 7am. Depending on the traffic on the A27, I’m usually in the office before 8am, and settle myself with a cup of tea to check emails and our in-house systems to see what activity looked like from the day before.
I’m responsible for our Waste Recycling Enterprise – we have two sites in West Sussex and process up to 100,000 tonnes of green waste each year. We work with a range of organisations, including local authorities, national companies and trade landscapers, processing green waste into compost, topsoil and other garden products. With a move to sustainability and recycling it’s a busy and growing sector. As well as exploring new business opportunities I work closely with our key clients and support our Area Operations Manager in leading our 21 strong Waste Recycling team. We’re proud of our Quality and Environmental ISO standards – and another part of my role is ensuring we remain audit compliant.
The team dynamic
It’s great to work in such a lovely green space – in the Sussex countryside outside Chichester – and I enjoy collaborating with our people and being part a dynamic and successful team. Independence and trust are championed here so it’s great to be able to take full ownership of various projects and tasks – and then cascade that autonomy through the rest of the team.
Typically my time is spent reviewing various health, safety, quality and environmental management documents, updating statistics and KPIs and staying in close contact with our key clients. Alongside this I’ll manage PAS100 and ISO audits through the year, as well as keeping budgets updated and reporting on performance to the rest of the management team and the Board.
It’s been a much more stable few years, especially given the turbulence we saw at the start of the pandemic, and the significant increases in the cost of fuel. The past few years have seen us with a number of challenges including staff shortages and the political and socio-economic impacts faced by many organisations. And with both our compost production and farming operation there have been the inevitable issues caused by more extreme weather events. But we’ve learnt to adapt and overcome, and our strong team culture has certainly helped us navigate through tricky times.
Embracing wider responsibilities
Whilst I head up all things involving waste recycling and mainly focus on that area, as a Director I’m also heavily involved in our business-to-consumer division, called Earth Cycle. I keep a close eye on which products are selling, and quality control of our product range. And while I’m usually at my desk, there are regularly visits to the compost sites for scheduled meetings and catch ups.
Being in the office so much sometimes means it’s tricky to get my steps in every day, so I often run during my lunchbreak, aiming for at least 8km twice a week. With plenty of fields and trails around the office it makes for a good break. If the weather is against me I’ll use the gym!
Afternoons are usually set aside for other meetings, and I’ll thoroughly track and report on our financial and operational performance too. I keep a close eye on our health and safety and it’s also critical to keep up to date with the latest legislation for obvious reasons.
Before finishing I’ll check my calendar to see what’s planned for the next day – and make sure I’m well prepared. Then it’s back in the car and home!
Meet Raimonds Mamonovs, our Area Operations Manager. In this meet the team blog series, you can find out more about our team, their roles and a what a typical working day looks like.
I’m awake at 6am, and enjoy a fresh cup of coffee whilst checking the day’s weather forecast to prepare for whatever conditions lie ahead. The past few months have been challenging, with one of the wettest spring’s on record, which has impacted the volume of green waste we’ve received, and our compost production, so the weather is a high priority! I’m at the office around 7.20am, to welcome the team as they arrive. Once we’re all in we gather for our morning meeting, to discuss the day’s agenda and share any updates. It’s a collaborative and energising start and gets us all ready for the day. I also make it a point to conduct a walk around our Tangmere site, inspecting operations, ensuring everything is running smoothly and addressing any issues. I’ll also head to Runcton a few times throughout the week. These visits are essential for making sure all sites are running smoothly and efficiently. During these visits, I also run health and safety checks, and environmental assessments, to maintain all regulations and standards.
Back at my desk I make time to review our procedures, update documentation as needed, and implement improvements – we’re always keen to be efficient and effective.
Composting and Collaborating
As Area Operations Manager I oversee our day-to-day operations and the management of our two licensed composting facilities. I’m responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of our machinery, coordinating staff, ensuring health and safety standards are met, and maintaining consistent standards across our sites.
A key aspect of my role is to manage the composting process efficiently, adhering to all health and safety, environmental, and quality standards. This includes maintaining detailed records and ensuring compliance with relevant protocols and regulations.
As part of the management team I also get involved in strategic planning, decision-making, and making sure our organisational goals and objectives are on track.
The best part of my job is undoubtedly the fact that no two days are ever the same. I thrive on the variety and really enjoy problem-solving, which puts my creativity and analytical skills to the test. With a team of 18 to manage, I find working closely with people is incredibly rewarding. Whether it’s collaborating with colleagues to overcome obstacles or interacting with clients and stakeholders, building relationships and making a positive impact is always fulfilling.
Covid Changed Everything
One of the most challenging moments was navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic. Everything shifted overnight – from the way we worked to the way we interacted with customers. As people took to their gardens, our sales surged, so we had to meet increased demand whilst keeping everyone safe. Implementing strict health and safety protocols, such as social distancing and enhanced hygiene, became paramount. And staffing shortages due to self-isolation and ensuring adequate spacing between team members added an extra layer of complexity!
Despite these difficulties, our team rallied together with flexibility and dedication. Strong communication, problem-solving and great teamwork ensured we served our customers effectively during these uncertain times. It was a period that truly tested our mettle but also highlighted the strength of our team and our ability to adapt.
Signing Off
Before heading home, I try to tie up any loose ends and prepare for the next day. As well as checking my emails and calendar for future tasks and meetings, I take a final walk around site to ensure everything’s in order. Finally, I check that all equipment and facilities are securely locked up and put away, ensuring the safety and security of our premises. This always helps my peace of mind, allowing me to switch smoothly from work to home life.
Environmental stewardship schemes, which DEFRA manages, aim to encourage farmers to put land aside to improve wildlife and reduce farming’s impact on the environment. As part of our role as custodians of this special area of Sussex farmland, we’ve embraced some of these schemes to help protect the environment. Cameron Lewis, our MD, shares details of some of the environmental schemes we’ve adopted on the Farm and the benefits we’re seeing.
Farming in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way is very important to us. Being part of national environmental schemes matches both our vision and mission as an organisation. There are clear benefits of taking part – for both the land, and our culture as a business. There’s also, it has to be said, an element of income support for the farm – which helps too!
We’re currently signed up to a 5-year Mid-Tier Countryside Stewardship Scheme, which runs until December 2026. We’re also part of a 3-year Sustainable Farming Initiative which runs to the same timeframe.
What’s involved in environmental schemes?
All schemes require a significant amount of additional work. This can range from additional soil testing to measure soil health, to planting specific seed mixes on a specific piece of ground that will feed birds through the winter months. We’ve got a number of measures in place that enhance our natural hedgerows and create wildlife corridors that shelter the smaller birds and mammals on the Farm. Other measures like planting winter cover crops or herbal grass leys help to reduce nutrient leaching into the water courses and lower the risks of soil erosion during heavy rainfall periods. We treat the management of these schemes like any other cash crop to ensure the measures we sign up to are effective and get the right attention through the farming year.
What are the benefits of taking part?
Over the last 25 years of being certified organic and participating in the numerous environmental schemes we’ve seen a huge increase in wildlife diversity. This is across the food chain too – from birds of prey to the insect life and improvements to soil health.
We’re very much in favour of these schemes. They’re always evolving, have generally improved and are easier to tailor. Getting a balance of farms in the UK producing food for the population as well as looking after the environment is challenging, but so important.
We’ve also gone further with some of our own environmental projects too, from installing solar energy for use on Farm, to working to ISO14001 international standards for environmental management. This acts as a framework for the business in setting continuous improvement goals and reducing our impact as a business on the environment we live in.
What’s next?
We’re keen to get more involved and sign up to more measures that will help the bio-diversity within the Farm estate. We’re also working on a Group-wide project to set out our longer-term plans around the environment, sustainability and how we govern the business to ensure these areas progress into the future.
Reflecting on life down on the farm, John Pitts, our owner and fourth generation farmer at Woodhorn, shares some of the latest developments.
We have taken another positive step on our sustainability journey with the installation of solar panels at Reeds Farm which will provide renewable electricity to the dairy. Our main demand for power comes from the milking parlour, the hot water required for milking plant sterilisation and the milk cooling in our bulk milk tank. In addition, our new pasteurisation plant will be entirely powered by solar energy, so hopefully another positive for those of you enjoying our milk from The Oving Cow Shed!
Our main use for electricity at night is for lighting in the cow sheds when solar panels are asleep. We are about to upgrade all of our lights which will be significantly more energy efficient and will then consider installing a commercial battery storage system so that these too can run on solar power.
Harvest is approaching, although expectations are rather low this year following the incredibly wet winter and spring. Wet, cloddy seed beds inevitably meant that plant populations were low on emergence with many seeds not germinating. Across the country many thousands of acres were not able to be sown at all, so the farm team at Woodhorn did extremely well in the face of one of the most challenging springs in memory.
Continued wet weather created enormous disease pressure in all our crops and even conventional farmers, with the massive armoury of chemicals at the disposal, struggled to control the likes of septoria tritici in wheat and crown rust in oats. Being organic and chemical-free means that ‘disease years’ (like this one) significantly reduce our yields but one might argue that the ‘gap’ between Organic and Conventional farming systems is even more stark when the amount of chemicals applied is so high on other farms.
Whilst the subject matter of these articles is naturally governed by the title ‘Down on the Farm,’ I thought I would give a mention to our teams on our green waste sites at Tangmere and Runcton. Wet spring and summers inevitably generate more garden waste than normal, and this puts huge pressure on everyone during a time of year that is already extremely busy. What is more, the active composting material that has sat on-site over the winter is, inevitably, incredibly wet which has made screening the finished compost at best extremely challenging and at worst impossible. I often refer to the dedication of our farm teams and the same very much applies to all our staff involved in the composting enterprises. Thank you, all of you!
We are on course to process over 110,000 tons of waste this year, all of which would otherwise have been landfilled and as most of you know, we turn this into a variety of peat-free soils and compost mixes which we retail through our Earth Cycle brand. We are also currently providing c.8500 tons of a bespoke British Standard peat-free topsoil mix for the new sports pitches at Shopwyke Lakes, which have suffered significant delays due to the wet weather – are you noticing a theme to this article?!
To remain sustainable as a farming business we must clearly adapt to the changing climate and increasingly extreme weather patterns that we’re now seeing in the UK. Cameron Lewis, our MD, looks at some of the steps we’ve been taking to evolve our operations to better cope with climate change.
The UK growing season now sees regular extreme variations. Typically, we now see very wet mild winter and spring periods, followed by very dry hot summers.
Whilst our farm, which is based on the Chichester plains, has always been quite dry during the summer months, these more arid conditions have tended to arrive earlier and last longer over the last decade. Rainfall – when it comes – is also arriving in larger and in shorter periods of time.
Organic farming and climate change
As a mixed farm with grassland and cereal crops in rotation we’ve historically been quite well protected, spreading our cropping plans across both autumn and spring planting schedules. Being organic also means our cropping rotations are already well balanced, ensuring we protect and maintain good soil health.
Adapting to climate change
Despite our efforts there are a number of areas in which we’ve had to adapt, to respond to these shifting weather patterns and climate change. Here are some of the key areas that we’ve been focusing on:
Increasing land areas dedicated to biodiversity– 9% of our land is now in a 5-year mid-tier stewardship scheme. We’ve also signed up to additional measures to promote soil health and nature within the SFI 2024 scheme. This, along with our organic farming principals, is helping increase insect, flora and fauna across the farm.
Aiming to farm with no bare soil – this approach focuses on protecting the soil and ensuring that a living crop is growing all year round. After each cash crop is harvested, we replace it with a green cover crop to bridge the gap over winter until the next spring crop is sown. By keeping a living root system in the soil, the soil biology and ecosystem benefits helping to keep vital nutrients fixed in the plant root system as well as minimising soil erosion. Given the extreme amounts of heavy rainfall which we’ve seen over the last few years this has really helped to protect the soils on our farm, especially from extreme temperature fluctuations.
Boosting organic matter – an additional benefit of growing cover crops has been the increasing organic matter in our soils. As part of our drive to be carbon neutral one of our key objectives is to increase carbon in our soils. When we turn the cover crop into the soil to plant the next cash crop we add the biomass back into the soil to breakdown. This helps to increase organic matter, and year on year is helping to lock up more carbon into the soil.
Introducing dual cropping plans – dual cropping might mean that we plant clover seed within a crop of wheat. This has two benefits; the clover plant, being a legume, will fix nitrogen in the soil which the wheat plant can then use. It also keeps the soil protected from the warmer summer temperatures.
On our grass pastures we’re also adapting the drier summer climate in three ways:
When planting our new grass leys, we’re adding chicory into the white clover seed mix. This plant is more drought resistant. The deep rooting system will find moisture during the dryer parts of the year and provide grazing cover for the cows.
On part of the farmland we manage, we’re fortunate to be able to access water for irrigation. Over the last two years we’ve been investing in both irrigation equipment and storage to allow us to water key grazing paddocks.
We’ve invested in machinery that can apply liquid waste from our cows that are housed during the winter months. By installing additional winter storage, we can apply the liquid bi-product from the cows to the growing crops and grass leys during the spring and summer months. This helps to both add nutrient and moisture to crops.
Ongoing challenges
Whilst we’re working hard to adapt to climate change, we’re experiencing some real challenges. Often the window of opportunity to prepare for planting and harvesting is much shorter. And in the spring, there is more of a need to let the ground dry out, after large amounts of rainfall, so that we can start planting. Once the soil starts to dry out, the longer dry spells mean conditions can quickly become too dry. Spreading our crop plans between autumn and spring has helped to spread this risk to a degree, but in reality, a shorter planting window means we have to work more efficiently and quicker without increasing costs!
Embracing solar power
These drier conditions and our location on the south coast has also created opportunities. Solar power is one example where we’re using our location to our own advantage. As a result, we’re investing in a number of rooftop and on ground solar installations, with an aim to rely solely on green energy as part of our carbon neutral journey.
Climate change is here to stay, and it’s critical that we acknowledge its impact and take steps to adapt. We remain alert about the work we have to do, and how we can evolve our operations to protect the future of this very special space which we look after.
As an organic farm we’re sometimes asked about the reasons we converted, and whether choosing organic products really matters to the public. John Pitts, our owner, shares his thoughts on when and why organic matters.
Why choose organic?
It’s a reasonable question for every shopper and also for me as an organic farmer of 24 years. Without the ability to manipulate nature with the routine use of pesticides, synthetic fertilisers, growth hormones and antibiotics, organic farming is a much more challenging way to produce food. I’m no Luddite; I recognise farming as a science, but I just choose not to make it a chemistry experiment.
Conventional farming has become increasingly intensive as a result of the continuous drive to deliver cheaper and cheaper food. Soils are exhausted, pollution of groundwater and rivers is prevalent, animal welfare takes a back seat to ‘efficiency’ and the global loss of biodiversity is alarming.
Organic farmers rely on natural methods such as composting, crop rotation, and biological pest control to maintain soil structure and fertility and manage pests crop diseases. Genetically modified crops (GMOs) are banned. The World Health Organisation (WHO) cite resistance to antibiotics as one of the top global public health and development threats. As a member of Organic Herd (the farmer-owned cooperative of organic dairy farmers) we are prohibited from using antibiotics and our focus is subsequently on prevention rather than cure. We believe that if we care for our cows in the right way they will not need antibiotics.
Greenwashing and Regenerative Farming
Thankfully, concern for our environment, the impact of climate change and how our food is produced is no longer a niche topic of conversation amongst a few ‘organic weirdos’ but has become mainstream. There is no longer a business, industry or lobby group that fails to make, often ludicrous, claims to be ‘green’, ‘sustainable’ and ‘climate-friendly.’ Greenwashing is rife. Sadly, the agricultural industry is no different. Marketing gurus produce eco-friendly sounding names to repackage what remains the same conventional farming but with a few media sound bite-friendly tweaks.
‘Regenerative Farming’ is such a name undoubtedly filled with promise and the apparent Damascus moment causing regen farmers to consider soil health must be welcomed. But there is no restriction on the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilisers, antibiotics, GMOs and chemical seed dressings. Indeed, Regenerative Farming is totally dependent on the regular and continuous use of the chemical Glyphosate which in 2015 was declared as “Probably Carcinogenic” by the WHO and is banned or restricted in 25 countries including Germany. The global agrochemical industry is estimated (2024) to be worth $253 billion. So there’s no guessing who is controlling the narrative.
A recent article in Farmers Weekly hailed a 1750-cow dairy herd that never saw a blade of grass as an example of Regenerative Farming. There are no enforceable standards governing ‘regenerative’, ‘wild farming’, ‘rewilding’ or any other of the media-friendly names – except for one: organic.
My book of ‘Organic Standards’ is about two inches thick, and its contents are enshrined in law. Independent organisations conduct on-farm inspections and if I break the rules I can not only have my certification removed but I can end up with a criminal record. Consequently, you can trust that organic does what it says on the tin.
Why organic matters
But what about the outcomes? Peer-reviewed evidence around the benefits of organic compared to conventional farming systems demonstrates that. Organically farmed soils are 25% more effective at storing carbon and can mitigate both flooding and drought by storing up to 100% more water. Organic farms are 50% more abundant in wildlife with up to 34% more species including 50% more bees, butterflies, and essential pollinators The only way to guarantee that the milk you buy is from cows that graze grass during the growing seasons is to buy organic. The outcomes are endless and the food is safe, nutritious and has been respectful to the planet in its making.
The question posed was ‘Why Organic’? At Organic Herd we have a mantra: ‘How We Farm Matters’. That’s why.
Meet Cameron Lewis, our Managing Director. In this meet the team blog series, you can find out more about our team, their roles and a what a typical working day looks like.
I’ve spent the majority of my career in farming and agriculture, so I’ve always woken early. I’m normally up and about by 6am, and the addition of children and family life hasn’t really changed things! Being awake early means I can get my eldest two packed and off to the school bus for 7am. I can then spend time with my youngest who, at 4, ensures breakfast involves some enjoyable conversations – she certainly helps set a positive mood for the day ahead. The final job before heading out the door is to make sure Mrs Lewis has a hot cup of coffee in her hand.
I have the benefit of living on the farm and so it’s a very short commute for me, but also means I have lots of open space on my doorstep to walk Andy, our dog. My proximity to the office also helps me get there early so I can greet the team as they arrive and have a bit of a catch up before we all start work.
It probably goes without saying that as MD of a highly diverse business with a team of nearly 50 employees, there’s no such thing as a ‘normal’ day. I report to the owner of the business and oversee the cultural and strategic direction of The Woodhorn Group, so the demands on my time vary significantly across a year. As with any farming operation, there is some seasonality and I’m used to the flow of that, but equally, life throws curve balls and so even when I do plan my days, sometimes something comes up that requires my attention. I’ve become good at pivoting and delegating to the five members of the senior management team who report directly to me, and I’m fortunate to have effective people around me. They are primarily responsible for the day-to-day operation of our core business divisions which include the farm and dairy, waste management, certified soils and the business centre. There’s also the overall finance and HR aspects of managing a growing team within a multi-million turnover organisation.
A changing role in a changing business
My role has changed a lot over the 15 years of working with Woodhorn, mainly because the business has changed and grown so much. Through the week I aim to spend time in each department, working on any live projects and speaking to the team. I will visit all the sites and farms through the month but no longer need to do so on a daily basis, given the skill of our managers.
From time to time there are projects that require my attention more than others. Our milk vending operation, which launched in 2023, was one of these. This was a big project for us as a business and for me personally, as it’s another aspect of our continued diversification, a key theme in our strategy. It allows us to sell our organic whole milk direct to the public and takes us closer to the consumer than any other aspect of our operations. The complexities of getting the systems and processes in place to sell a single litre of milk to a member of the public, in a business which normally ships 5,000 litres a day in a bulk tanker, was interesting! But this is what I enjoy about my role, and I like that I’m always learning.
Whilst the diversity of my role is what keeps it fresh and interesting, it can also be one of the most challenging aspects. Juggling priorities and allotting time to each of the different operations can mean I have to swap hats at speed and quickly recall information about projects, strategies and budgets. So it’s important that I know and understand each part of the business, but without being involved in everything, all of the time. I have a genuine interest in all that we do, so it can be hard to maintain the divide between strategic and operational. Again, the strength and quality of our team means I know I don’t need to be involved in every little decision.
Strategic time management
One of the practices I’ve developed to remain strategic is booking out chunks of time to look at the business as a whole, each business unit individually and also the wider market. This means going out, meeting other similar businesses, visiting suppliers, attending conferences and importantly, spending time with John, the business owner. I actively look forward to the part of the year where we start looking at the next 12 months and also those sessions where we set a slightly longer term strategic flight path for the business.
Looking back over my 15 years, many of our plans have come to fruition, but there are of course some that haven’t taken off. Like any business we’ve had challenges over the years; from economic impacts to the weather and from health emergencies (both animal and human!) to significant changes in demand. We’ve always had to pivot, and been tested, but typically, because we’ve made diversification the core of our strategy, we’ve not just survived but come through stronger.
A moment to reflect each day
Generally, I like to ensure that I’m organised and prepared for the next working day before heading home each evening. Recognising what I’ve achieved and looking at what’s on tomorrow’s agenda is important. If I’ve finished the day in the office, then the short walk home with Andy is lovely. In fact the beauty and peace of a rural environment is one of the things I love most. The other thing I like about life at Woodhorn is the people I get to work with. We’ve got a talented group of hardworking and very skilled people and being a family run business also means there is still a personal feel to the company. John still lives on the farm; his family has been farming here since the late 19th century. Sometimes as I walk home, I’ll bump into him and we’ll have a quick, unplanned update ‘over the farm gate’. These brief catch ups, late in the day, are really valuable and give us the chance to reflect on any highlights, challenges or ideas from the day.
Arriving home I’m straight into family life, hearing about school days and clubs before we all have dinner. Because we’re rural, and as the children get older, there’s often the need for ‘Dad’s Taxi’ in the evening, and if there’s some rugby to watch, I’ll be there! But most of the time a bit of peace, a chat, or a quick walk around the farm with Mrs Lewis, the children or Andy the dog is all it takes to reset before it’s time to do it all again tomorrow!
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