Woodlands Farm

BBC Food and Farming Awards 2009

Andrew Dennis has been voted Farmer of the Year in the BBC
Food and Farming Awards 2009. Andrew, who accepted the award on behalf of Woodlands at a ceremony attended by HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, paid tribute to the team at Woodlands without whom this award would not have been possible.

‘It proved a really interesting adventure’ he said later. ‘which simply wouldn’t have happened without the dedication and effort of all my colleagues on the farm. I think what makes this award special is that we were nominated by members of the public. It kind of makes you feel on track’.

The award was presented to Andrew by Alex James, farmer and bass guitarist with the pop group Blur. who together with Lord Chris Haskins, former chair of Northern Foods, and a panel of judges headed by the chef Raymond Blanc,
judged the BBC awards. For more info visit www.bbc.co.uk.

Organic Food Award Winners 2008

A Pointed Cabbage grown by Woodlands Organic Farm of Kirton, near Boston has won the fresh fruit and vegetable category of this year’s prestigious Organic Food Awards.

The Soil Association Organic Food Awards 2008, sponsored by Highland Spring, were judged by an expert panel of chefs, restaurateurs, food writers and specialists, alongside names such as Jo Wood and Donna Air. They involved a three day tasting marathon of 900 entries hosted at the Duke of Cambridge in London, the UK’s only organic certified pub.

Monty Don, president of the Soil Association, presented the awards to the winners – which spanned 12 categories – on Friday 5th September at Bordeaux Quay, Bristol on the eve of the Soil Association Organic Fortnight and Food Festival.

‘It’s great this award was won by a Cinderella crop for a change’, said Andrew Dennis, farmer at Woodlands Farm. ‘Pointed Cabbage may not be one of the most exotic, exciting ‘superfood’-type vegetables but it has the most gorgeous taste which I can only assume is why it won!’

Praised by the judges for its superb texture, colour and flavour Andrew added ‘ This award couldn’t have come at a more exciting time for us. Interest in buying food locally from Box Schemes, farmers markets and farm shops is growing all the time when prices at the big retail stores are rocketing. Many congratulations to Mark Gott who grew these amazing vegetables at Woodlands’.

Organic Producer of the Year 2004

Andrew Dennis of Woodlands Farm, Lincolnshire.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Giorgio Locatelli and Darina Allen were among the distinguished judges who decided the winners of the 2004 organic food awards in a wide-range of categories including baby food, meat, vegetables and wines. Over 40 individuals, businesses and organisations in England, Scotland and Wales were recognised out of over 1,000 entries.

The Organic Food Awards, in their 18th year, were announced at a special ceremony at Sheepdrove Organic Farm in Berkshire, on 3 November. They were organised by the Soil Association, the UK's main organisation promoting organic food and farming.

Martin Cottingham, the Soil Association's Marketing Director, said, "The winners have shown outstanding commitment to organic standards and to the quality of the food that they produce. These awards are richly deserved, as competition was particularly tough.

The judges commented of Woodlands:

 "This farm shows how good organic farming can get!"

They were particularly impressed with the increasing local and direct sales, which account for 41% of Woodlands Farm's turnover (the farm was initially 100% reliant on supermarket sales).
Andrew Dennis uses local breeds for his beef and lamb, and pays great attention to conservation and biodiversity measures.

The Producer of the Year Award was sponsored by Triodos Bank.

Woodlands Farm were also winners of the Best Fruit and Vegetables category with their Romanesque, purple and summer cauliflowers. This special award was presented to Woodlands grower Mark Gott.

Organic Box Scheme of the Year 2003

Woodlands Farm, which grows, packs and delivers boxes of organic vegetables and fruit to over 1000 homes within a 40 mile radius of the Farm won the prestigious Box Scheme of the Year Award at the 2003 Organic Food Awards run by the Soil Association and sponsored by YOU Magazine.

The annual Organic Food Awards, set up to highlight the best organic food and drink in the UK, were made by a distinguished panel of more than 70 judges including food writers Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Sophie Grigson, and restauranteur Raymond Blanc. Over 1000 entries in 36 categories were submitted. The awards were presented at a special ceremony in London at the Dorchester Hotel on Friday 24th October.

Fourth generation farmer Andrew Dennis from Kirton, near Boston started the Woodlands Farm Box Scheme in 2000.

 'Winning this award was great because it helps to demonstrate that good affordable organic food is just as available direct from your local grower as it is from the supermarket. And it’s usually fresher having not travelled thousands of miles to reach you.. Our customers know they can visit Woodlands Farm whenever they wish and actually see their vegetables growing. Once an order is received we pick, pack and then deliver the next day'.

Woodlands Farm, which forms part of the Organic Farms Network, is a mixed organic farm producing organic vegetables and fruit, Bronze Turkeys, Lincoln Longwool lamb and Lincoln Red Beef . It has a farm trail which is open all year. Visits by local schools, charities and voluntary organizations are welcome.