The Best Organic Farms in the UK

If any single operation can be said to have legitimised organic farming in the British mainstream, it is the Duchy Home Farm. Situated at Broadfield Farm near Tetbury, this is the agricultural heart of the Duchy of Cornwall estate. The conversion to organic methods began in 1986 under farm manager David Wilson, and the entire holding achieved full Soil Association organic status by 1996. Today the farm extends to approximately 1,120 acres in-hand, with a further 800 acres of share-farmed land managed organically.

The system is a textbook example of mixed farming: livestock are integrated with herbal leys and arable rotations, building soil fertility without synthetic inputs. Rare breed cattle and heritage grain varieties are maintained alongside the commercial operation, and the farm has long been associated with the Soil Association at a governance level. For consumers, produce from the estate is available through the Duchy Organic range and the Duchy Home Farm box scheme. It is a working proof-of-concept that organic mixed farming can operate at meaningful commercial scale.

Scotland's oldest organic dairy, Forest Farm has been certified organic since 1998, when Anthony and Anne Willis converted what was then known as Glasgoforest Farm. The family's commitment to organic principles runs deep, with the herd grazing permanent pastures that have never seen synthetic fertiliser.

The dairy produces award-winning organic milk, cream, and butter, all processed on-site in their own facility. Their herd of Ayrshire and Holstein-Friesian crosses are known for producing rich, creamy milk with a distinctive flavour that reflects the Scottish terroir. The farm shop welcomes visitors and offers a window into genuine organic dairy production.

What began as Guy Watson delivering vegetables from his wheelbarrow in 1987 has become one of Britain's largest organic vegetable box schemes. Riverford now delivers to over 50,000 households weekly from its network of sister farms across the country. The main farm at Wash Barn in Devon remains the heart of operations.

Beyond scale, Riverford is notable for its employee ownership model, adopted in 2018, which transferred 74% of shares to staff. The Field Kitchen restaurant on the Devon farm showcases produce at its peak, while farm tours offer unvarnished insight into commercial organic vegetable production. The operation proves that ethical business structures and organic certification can coexist with genuine commercial success.

The Mead family has farmed at Holt Farm in the Yeo Valley since 1961. Organic conversion began in 1994, driven by Tim Mead's conviction that sustainable dairy farming was both commercially viable and environmentally essential. Today Yeo Valley Organic is the UK's largest organic dairy brand.

The farm itself remains a working demonstration of organic principles: 1,500 acres supporting a mixed system of dairy, beef, and arable production. Wildlife corridors, restored hedgerows, and extensive tree planting reflect the company's commitment to biodiversity. The Yeo Valley Organic Garden, open to visitors, showcases organic horticulture principles alongside the commercial dairy operation.

Daylesford represents perhaps the most comprehensive organic estate in Britain. Under the stewardship of Carole Bamford, the farm has developed an integrated system encompassing dairy, beef, lamb, pigs, poultry, market garden, bakery, and creamery across 2,350 acres in the Cotswolds plus additional land in Staffordshire.

The on-site farm shop and cafe have become a destination in their own right, though the real substance lies in the farming itself. Soil Association certification covers the entire operation, from the heritage grain varieties grown for the bakery to the raw milk cheese aged in the estate's own cellars. It demonstrates what organic farming can achieve when resources permit comprehensive integration.