• Home
• Local Food
• Farm Services

Producer Profile – Dairy Farmer, Huw Ellis, COR! Milkshakes
Back in 2003, dairy farmer Huw Ellis spotted a gap in the market and launched a range of organic milkshakes (Classic Organic – COR!) using the milk from his herd of 200 Friesian cows. Ruralscapes assisted Huw with his business plans, helping to identify new markets, negotiating contracts with several local schools and offering his milkshakes for sale via its Local Feast Website. The delicious chocolate, banana and strawberry flavoured milkshakes meet high quality standards and are made from fresh milk, as opposed to UHT. They are also free from artificial colourings, preservatives and GM ingredients and are suitable for vegetarians. The milkshakes have proved so popular that Local Feast is currently struggling to meet the demand of its thirsty customers!

Huw’s farm, Pentre Wern, located on the outskirts of Oswestry, has undergone a transformation over the last three years. By working with Ruralscapes and other agencies on a number of initiatives, Huw has been able to significantly improve the environmental management of his dairy farm. Ruralscapes has carried out a lot of work reviewing the management of soil and manure resources in order to minimise the farm’s environmental impact.

The active management of the farm’s grassland areas, through an environmental scheme, attracts birds such as lapwings, curlews and snipe, all of which are endangered species. In addition, Huw’s farm boasts some of the best hedgerows in the area, where yellow hammers and song thrushes are frequently spotted. It doesn’t stop there! Another endangered species, the Barn Owl, also nests there. Pentre Wern is a shining example of how good environmental management can work in harmony with intensive farming techniques.  

The location of Huw’s farm also has historical significance as an Iron Age track, Wat’s Dyke, runs through the middle of the farm. Huw has entered into an agreement with English Heritage that will ensure the features of the track are preserved for future generations.  

For more information about Pentre Farm and COR! Organic Milkshakes see www.classic-organic.co.uk    

Ruralscapes has carried out similar work with many other producers to reduce the environmental impact of their farming practices. Improved environmental management credentials have proved to be invaluable when marketing produce in local markets.   

Appleby's of Hawkstone 
Another regional dairy producer, whose products are also available through our Local Feast internet service, is Appleby’s of Hawkstone.

The Appleby family has a history of cheese making spanning several generations. Today they produce one of the only hand-made cloth bound Cheshire Cheeses to be made in the 'old fashioned' way. Cheshire is the oldest recorded British cheese and one of the finest. It is produced using a traditional recipe and milk from the Appleby's own farm that gives the cheese its unique texture and flavour. The Appleby’s are committed to maintaining the craft of traditional cheese making.

The process involves three simple steps:   

Stage One - The milk is heated to 30 degrees centigrade when a live culture is added to the milk. A renneting agent is then added to form curds which are left to set.

Stage Two - The curds are cut, releasing the whey. The vat is heated and the curds turned over to further expel the whey. Salt is then added – and the curd is milled. This milled curd is put into calico lined cylindrical moulds and the moulds are put into cheese presses.

Stage Three - The cheeses are removed from their moulds, and then bound in a calico cloth using an edible paste. They are then stored, at 13 degrees and 80% humidity, for a minimum of six weeks and a maximum of six months, and are turned and rubbed every day.  

Ruralscapes is keen to work more closely with Appleby’s in the near future to support the environmental management of the family’s farm. For more information about Appleby’s cheeses, visit www.applebysofhawkstone.co.uk.