In pictures: Duchess of Edinburgh given ‘farm to bowl’ tour, beginning at Highfield Farm, Bassingbourn
The Duchess of Edinburgh was given a ‘farm to bowl’ tour – and made her own blend of granola – during a visit to the region.
Sophie began by visiting Highfield Farm in Bassingbourn last Friday (14 June) to learn more about sustainable farming.
It is part of the The Jordans Farm Partnership (JFP) – a unique collaboration between Jordans Cereals, LEAF Marque and The Wildlife Trusts.
The duchess then went to the home of Jordans Cereals in Biggleswade during a visit that showcased all aspects of its business, from sustainably growing oats through to the mill and its finished cereals.
Jordans’ managing director Anne Sawbridge gave her an overview of the brand and, in a kitchen demonstration with some early career production development technicians, Her Royal Highness was invited to create her own granola blend to take home for her and husband Prince Edward to try.
Another session with employees in other areas, such as sales and marketing, showed how Jordans’ products go from the factory to being fully packaged and into the shops.
During the day, the duchess met farmers supplying oats to the company as part of the Jordans Farm Partnership, talked to Jordans employees and met with young career entrants and local schoolchildren, discussing career opportunities in the agri-food sector.
The duchess also met Bill Jordan, co-founder of Jordans Cereals, and representatives of industry partners that support the work of LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) to promote engagement with more sustainable food and farming systems, including Waitrose, Tesco, HSBC, Hutchinsons and Frontier.
LEAF chairman Philip Wynn said: “It has been an immense pleasure to welcome Her Royal Highness to Jordans to see the Jordans Farm Partnership in action.
“It is an outstanding example of different sectors working together to achieve shared outcomes for wildlife and biodiversity and pushing forward more regenerative, agroecological farming approaches.
“It has been a privilege to demonstrate the impact this progressive partnership is making to improve wildlife habitats, species numbers and overall biodiversity of our farmland at a significant scale – also to showcase the wide range of exciting career opportunities available to young people across the food and farming sector.”
LEAF CEO David Webster added: “It is a great honour to host Her Royal Highness at Jordans, given the pioneering efforts this business has made to work with farmers to embed wildlife conservation in its supply chain since 1985.
“All the farms in the Jordans Farm Partnership are now LEAF Marque Certified, which means that as well as supporting wildlife, these farms are taking action to ensure more productive soils, cleaner water, lower greenhouse gas emissions and community engagement, by supporting school visits, or Open Farm Sunday, for example.”
David concluded: “This visit is a wonderful example of how LEAF is working with progressive farmers, food businesses, supermarkets, banks, environmental charities, schools, and universities to promote the understanding and adoption of more environmentally sustainable farming practices.
“We are deeply grateful for the enormous support we receive from Her Royal Highness for all our work across the food, farming, and education sectors.”
Jordans’ managing director Anne Sawbridge said: “Caring for nature has always been at the heart of Jordans’ philosophy and` we are proud of what we’ve achieved through the Jordans Farm Partnership.
“Working with LEAF and the Wildlife Trusts, our oat farmers take a holistic, ‘whole farm’ approach that balances the considerations of nature recovery and sustainable farming practices with those of running a commercially successful farm.
“It has been an honour to introduce LEAF’s honorary president, HRH the Duchess of Edinburgh, to one of our partnership farms and to the Jordans cereals factory, bringing to life the natural simplicity of our farm to bowl story.”
In Bassingbourn, the duchess was received by Julie Spence, Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, who also introduced her to David Way, the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, Rosemary Way, the High Sheriff’s consort, and Ralph Parker, a LEAF Marque farmer and Jordan’s supplier.
