 Woodlands Farm forms part of a family
enterprise which has been farmed by the Dennis family for four
generations. Situated five miles south-east of Boston, the farm consists of level, fertile silt fens which
are said to have been reclaimed from the sea by the monks of
Crowland Abbey some nine hundred years ago.
The farm lies in an area known as South
Holland in the Lincolnshire fens. The landscape is one of wide
open spaces and colossal skies - "All sky and
geometry" as the poet John Clare once said. The
horizons are punctuated by many fine churches. From the farm it
is possible to see six church spires.
Woodlands Farm is approximately 1700
acres. It was created from a number of fields acquired by
William Dennis in about 1870. William Dennis the son of a farm
labourer, came to be regarded as something of a visionary farmer,
particularly in respect of his work with the potato. He was also
a philanthropist. For the King's dinner to the poor following
the coronation of King Edward VII in 1901, he provided
sufficient potatoes to feed all the poor of London. Visitors to
Kirton can find his statue standing outside the village hall.
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William Dennis seated front &
center surrounded by his five sons in a
photograph taken June 1914
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Woodlands Farm is still very much a family
affair. From William Dennis the farm passed first to Frank
Dennis, then to Peter Kirton Dennis, and now to Andrew Dennis.
Woodlands Farm is a truly mixed farm, with a small herd of
pedigree Lincoln Red Cattle ( The Woodlands Herd ) , Organic
Bronze Turkeys and sheep. The farm also produces a wide range of
organic vegetables and salads. In April 2000 the farm set up a
regional organic vegetable Box Scheme designed to provide
affordable organic vegetables for people living locally.
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