The Strand, following the Orwell foreshore between Wherstead and Freston, is named with reverence.  It has seen much change over the centuries in heritage and modernity, rural and urban, farmland and navigation.  Its setting is framed by the iconic Orwell Bridge which is much more than just a lump of concrete infrastructure.

Our family has farmed along the Strand for generations and before that operated a fleet of east coast barges trading from the port of Ipswich.  We have also seen much change and more recently we established the Suffolk Food Hall to provide enjoyable access to the wonderful products of our region.  Farming practices have responded to such opportunities too, and we are delighted to see traditional extensive systems becoming more applicable again.  In particular, we have grassed over intensive arable fields and reverted to grazing Red Poll cattle on paddocks along the Strand.

The epochal bridge divides the hustle of the port from an awe-inspiring vista down the River Orwell.  It is a gateway to the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB and we are privileged that more of our farm has been included in a boundary extension to this national landscape designation.  Whilst the bridge is striking within the landscape, many marvel at its beauty.  A sleek piece of engineering, giving rise to questions around how and when.

Another contribution to our community is by answering such questions, through the Suffolk Food Hall team, with infographic boards, recreational access to the Strand and extolling the best practices of land management.  Agri-environment schemes we run along the Strand, up Freston Brook and in the connected ancient woodlands, all benefit the wildlife in this foreshore-farmland niche.  Despite the pressures of change, this mile brings a smile, and our Strand is a unique thread on the east coast.

By Suffolk Food Hall