About Us

Denhay Farm is based in West Dorset in the mild climate of the Marshwood Vale, three miles from the sea immediately inland from Lyme Bay. Ranging from 200 ft to 750 ft above sea level, our farm has an average rainfall of 36 inches and soil that is heavy clay. These are ideal grass growing conditions. We also grow maize, a high-energy cow food, for feeding to our herds in the winter when the cows are housed. The muck from the cows is returned to the land for the grass and maize to grow - farmers don't like waste!

There are five herds of cows and we use only their milk to make our West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese. We are passionate about the quality and consistency of our products and this quality has been recognised by all the UK's top food awards.

For many years we had our own pigs and developed our own system for producing dry cured bacon. We also produced an air dried ham, or English prosciutto. With changes in environmental requirements as well as consumer preferences for outdoor reared pork, we closed our piggeries. However, having developed a really good curing technique we continue to produce Denhay Dry Cured Bacon using pork from outdoor reared British herds.

As a farming and food business, we are focused entirely on producing high quality dairy and pork products. It's our ambition to work with our customers to ensure that we meet or even exceed their expectations of taste, flavour, texture and presentation.

We also value the team at Denhay and their passion for making exemplary products, the animals in our care as farmers, and our surrounding environment. We are fortunate to farm in the Marshwood Vale which is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as well as being on the edge of the World Heritage Jurassic Coast.

As a measure of this Denhay Farms has:
* Freedom Foods accreditation
* British Farm Assured accreditation for the cows
* Become members of both LEAF* and FWAG**

In recognition of how we farm, our traditional approach and high standards of animal husbandry and environmental care, Denhay Farms was awarded the Royal Agricultural Society of England's Award for Excellence in Practical Farming in 2002.

Denhay has established a name for high quality speciality products produced with a passion for excellent taste and delivered with good service. Customers include the major food halls, high quality delicatessens, hotels and the leading supermarkets, notably Waitrose.

*LEAF: Linking Environment and Farming. A charity whose aims are to enable farmers to farm in an increasingly environmentally sustainable manner; and to communicate that fact to consumers.
** FWAG: Farming and Wildlife Avisory Group. Formed to help farmers improve their care of the environment and wildlifeby giving advise and support.