Lancashire's Booths stores to stock organic milk from 150-year-old dairy farm
Booths customers in Lancashire can now enjoy organic milk from Strickley Farm, a 150-year-old dairy farm near Kendal, which has been certified organic and takes a regenerative approach to farming.
Lancashire food stores Booths is now stocking organic milk from a dairy farm which has been in the same family for six generations.
Produced entirely from Strickley Farm’s own herd of native Dairy Shorthorn cows, the milk is processed and bottled in a purpose-built dairy on the farm, near Kendal, giving customers clear provenance from pasture to bottle.
Strickley Farm is run by the Robinson family, who have have milked Dairy Shorthorn cows since 1875, with some of the herd’s family lines stretching back for more than a century..
The partnership began when Booths CEO Nigel Murray visited Strickley Farm to learn more about James Robinson’s approach to regenerative farming.
Impressed by the progress James and his family had made and their commitment to producing food in harmony with nature, Nigel introduced him to Booths buyer Emily Sugden, and the idea of bringing Strickley Dairy milk to Booths customers began to take shape.
Emily said: “It all began with a conversation over a cup of tea at the farmhouse table, and today that dream is a reality for Booths customers to enjoy.
“Over the past year, we have worked closely with James, Michelle and the family to create something truly special. Strickley’s milk reflects everything we value at Booths: exceptional quality, strong provenance, traditional farming knowledge and a deep respect for the natural environment.
“It is a privilege to bring milk produced and bottled on a family farm near Kendal to customers across our stores.”
Strickley Farm is certified organic and takes a regenerative approach, working with nature to improve the health of its soils, pastures and wider farm environment. No artificial fertilisers or pesticides have been used on the farm for 20 years.
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Its 300 acres include miles of ancient hedgerows, wildflower hay meadows containing more than 100 species, wetlands, ancient oak woodland and species-rich pasture. These habitats support a rich variety of plants and wildlife while providing diverse grazing for the herd.
The farm’s Dairy Shorthorns are native to the North of England and well suited to the Cumbrian landscape. They graze outdoors on diverse, clover-rich pastures, while the farm’s traditionally maintained hedgerows provide natural food and shelter for the cows as well as important habitats for wildlife.
Around half of the farm’s energy is generated by rooftop solar panels, which also provide power their electric refrigerated van, enabling them to deliver to Booths with minimal environmental impact. Unlike milk pooled from multiple producers, every bottle of Strickley Dairy milk comes solely from the farm’s own herd.
James said: “For generations, our family has believed that producing good food and caring for nature should go hand in hand. We are immensely proud of our Dairy Shorthorn herd and of the landscape that supports it.
“Being able to process and bottle the milk here at Strickley means we can share something that truly reflects our farm, our cows and the way we work. Booths understood what we were trying to achieve from the beginning, and its commitment to quality, provenance and good farming made it a natural partner for us.
“Seeing Strickley Dairy milk on Booths’ shelves is a very special moment for our whole family.”