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Bluebell Dairy has grown from milking a small herd of cows in 1953 to a thriving family farm business and a micro-dairy producing award-winning artisan ice-cream.

Geoff, his wife Rosemary and their son, Oliver, and partner, Ella, are tenant farmers and have worked together to grow the business, which hasn’t been without challenges.

To adapt during Covid-19, the family had to think of innovative ways to support the farm while it was closed to the public. For example, a ‘click and collect’ milk delivery service was set up overnight delivering home produced milk, ice creams and local produce to more than 650 households.

The Brown family seem to be always looking for new ideas and efficiencies to develop the farm, improve the welfare of the cows and support sustainable farming while expanding their educational offering for their visitors.

In the last 12 months, they said they have invested tens of thousands of pounds in diversifying to enhance visitor experience and safeguard the future of the farm park for the next generations.

They have recently spent £180,000 on a brand-new 7,200 square-foot purpose-built barn for their herd of 15 cows, which is complete with a robotic milker and cattle scratching brush. Stepping away from traditional farming practices, the family made this decision to boost the efficiency and productivity of its micro-dairy, improve the welfare for its cows and offer the chance for children and adults to see how their milk is produced.

The family are also investing in its educational offerings and facilities for local schools and nurseries and visitors, as their goal is to share their knowledge of farming and ensure the next generation know exactly where their food comes from.

They said their key measures to success have been the high level of hard work, determination and input from all of the family involved in the farm business.

When it comes to environmental responsibility, this is something the Brown family has kept at the forefront of their mind throughout the farms expansion journey. The family are passionate about nurturing the environment, participating in countryside stewardship, ongoing plans for solar panels and increased habitat management on the farm.