WELCOME TO THE LECKFORD ESTATE
Leckford Estate was purchased by John Spedan Lewis in 1929 and remained his home throughout his life. We have farmed continuously for over 87 years and as The Waitrose Farm we are committed to producing the very best quality food, working in harmony with the environment. We are a LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) demonstration farm and we believe in the importance of maintaining and building biodiversity through the farming techniques we employ. We are a diverse estate and we invite visitors to come and see us in this very beautiful part of the Test Valley.
Located near Stockbridge in Hampshire, the Estate occupies approximately 4,000 acres split down the middle, north to south, by the River Test, with Leckford village on the east of the river and Longstock village on the west. Our business involves farming, food production, property management, retail, leisure and events.
Our farm is home to a herd of 550 Holstein/Friesian cows producing over 5 million litres of milk a year, apple and pear orchards, free range eggs, and over 1,500 acres of wheat, barley, oats and oilseed rape. In line with all Waitrose Dairy Farmers our cows have access to grazing for at least 100 days a year and we grow our own forage crops to ensure they have the very best quality feed. The newest addition to our farm is the vineyard. This was planted in 2009 and grows three different varieties of grape, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. We were delighted to receive a Silver medal for our first vintage of 2011.
We also have beef cattle and sheep conservation grazing in the River Test water meadows and on our chalk grassland banks during the winter and summer months.
As well as our farming enterprises, we grow over 27 tonnes a week of Chestnut mushrooms and press our own oil seed rape to produce Leckford Estate Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil. All products are sold nationally in our Waitrose shops.
On the Longstock side of our estate, we welcome customers and visitors to Longstock Park Nursery and our Farm Shop and Cafe. Open every day (except for Christmas and Easter) we have a fantastic display of plants, home and garden items and seasonal produce. We hold two large national collections of Buddlejas and Clematis viticella and during the summer, visitors can access our world famous water gardens. And of course when you need a rest and some refreshment you can enjoy the hospitality offered by our cafe team!
For the more active visitors, between May and October you can enjoy chalk stream trout fishing on our own stretch of the famous River Test or on one of our two all-year-round fishing lakes. You can also take some time out to play on our two 9 hole golf courses. Both offer a very different golfing challenge and a we are very proud that the old course was designed by Harry Colt in 1929. Membership and joining details can be obtained from the Farm Shop at Longstock.
Leckford Estate celebrates and shares Waitrose’s commitment to forward thinking within the food industry. And down on the estate, our Farm Shop gives customers the opportunity to support and enjoy local and regional produce from farmers and suppliers, with the assurance that the food is from a happy and healthy place.
We invite you to relax and unwind at our cafe in the heart of the scenic Hampshire countryside surrounded by our fresh and tasty produce and take in the panoramic views that surround us.