Moor Farm
Shropshire
The Timmis family has been farming in Baschurch since WWI. Moor farm is regenerative, and is home to Hereford cattle, Gloucester old spot pigs and free range chicken. They sell their produce in the brilliant family-run farm shop and cafe.
Along side the cattle, pigs and chickens, they also have arable land, solar panels and a grain storage and processing facility.
NHS caterers from Birmingham, Sheffield, Shrewsbury, Tayside, Somerset, Leicester, Hertfordshire, Gateshead, Luton and Dunstable attended.
We had a super fascinating tour of the farm in bright sunshine, led by Melissa Timmis, the farmer; and Philp Allman and Paul Sneyd of the Hereford Cattle Society.
We then had a long discussion over a delicious lunch, led by Iain Robertson, Co-chair of the Love British Food Hospitals Working Group and Tim Radcliffe, Net Zero Food Programme Manager NHS England.
We also had a presentation from NHS Supply Chain on their new Dynamic Procurement framework that will make it easier for Trusts to source from SMEs; and easier for SMEs to supply the NHS.
As a result of the farm visit:
- Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital is looking at putting Moor Farm beef on the Sunday menu once a month.
- The team at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is arranging a call with the Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital team to share how they worked with their procurement team to issue a tender that SMEs could apply for.
- Tim Radcliffe is going to be invited to speak about NHS opportunities for farmers at the next Hereford Cattle Society conference.
- And everyone heard, for the first time, about NHS Supply’s new Dynamic Procurement system and the opportunities for buying from SMEs through that.
“It was a great visit, I didn’t realise there was so much science behind farming and very informative. Please pass on our gratitude to Melissa, Hazel, Dan & Family for spending so much time explaining their farm, we can see there is a lot of passion going into the animals, environment, and land.”
Helen Westwood, Food Production Manager, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
“We had a fabulous day at Moor farm well worth the drive.”
Anna Warman, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
“Hearing the messaging from today – you are amazing, so proud of what you are achieving.”
Phil Shelley, Chair of the NHS Food Review; Senior Operational & Policy Manager NHS E&I
“It was a great visit, I didn’t realise there was so much science behind farming and very informative. Please pass on our gratitude to Melissa, Hazel, Dan & family for spending so much time explaining their farm, we can see there is a lot of passion going into the animals, environment, and land.”
Helen Westwood, Food Production Manager, Northern General Hospital
Location
Moor Farm
Ryton Road, Baschurch
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY4 2BA