T. Williams – Stanhill Farm

Stanhill Farm is situated on the outskirts of the village of Wilmington, a few miles from Dartford in Northwest Kent. Located just inside the M25 and between the A2 and A20 London trunk roads, the farm is relatively close to London, approximately 14 miles away, allowing them to offer local produce and minimize food miles. 

The farm is a family-run operation on a compact unit of about 150 acres. Stanhill Farm grows a variety of vegetable, fruit, and arable crops. With small field sizes averaging about 8 acres, the farm has numerous hedges and windbreaks. These are managed with nature in mind, cutting them on a two-year rotation to encourage wild birds and provide a habitat for invertebrates and small mammals at the hedge bottoms. 

Stanhill Farm has squared off cropping areas in several fields, creating field corners and margins that are managed for the benefit of nature and wildlife. This approach also helps reduce inputs. The small fields and hedges provide a beneficial microclimate and wind protection, improving growing conditions for crops. Beetle banks crossing some of the fields further support wildlife by serving as corridors for small mammals and insects.