Our farm
History of our farm
Lodge Farm first appears in the history records in 1651, when the second Earl of Carlisle 'sets aside' two portions of land for his own use - one of which is Lodge Farm.
In 1671 Edward Russell, nephew of Lady Carlisle, lived at Lodge Farm. From then on, the farm was in private ownership, until it was bought by George Palmer in 1822. The Palmer family-owned Lodge Farm until 1924, when it was purchased by David Henry Graham.
The Graham family have lived and worked at Lodge Farm ever since, handing the farm down through four generations to us - Robert, Bryony and Archie Graham.
The Graham family
We're the third and fourth generations of the Graham family to have lived and worked at Lodge Farm - currently managing our arable farm alongside the events which we host in our converted barns. We all work across all aspects of the business - whilst it's Bryony who primarily works front of house with our events team, it's Archie and Robert keep the wheels turning (literally and metaphorically!) behind the scenes.
Both Robert and Bryony are qualified agronomists with a strong commitment to environmentally sensitive farming, and Archie is passionate about managing ecosystems and habitats. Together, we care deeply about the land and ecosystem we are responsible for, and are committed to sustainable food production.
Our family are proud to have lived and worked at Lodge Farm for over 100 years, and we are delighted to welcome you into our home.
Our Events team
Meet Bryony, Nicole, Kate, Rachel & Heidi - our wonderful events team.
These are the ladies you’ll chat to when you first enquire about our venue; the friendly faces who’ll show you around on your private tour; and the clipboard-wielding, veil-swooshing, guest-gathering, fizz-pouring crew who’ll be right by your side on your wedding day.
They’re also the ones answering your emails (often at all hours!) and helping shape every detail of your plans, from the big vision down to the tiniest touches.
These are the people who make the magic happen, both behind the scenes and on the day itself.
The Farm team
Our farm team — Lewis, Bryony, Archie and Robert — work tirelessly in all weathers to bring food to your table.
Lodge Farm is primarily an arable farm, growing cereals such as wheat, oats and barley. That means bread, porridge, biscuits and even beer start their journey right here, amongst many other essentials.
We also grow beans, which help give the soil a well-earned rest and support the wider environment, and willow, not for cricket bats but as a sustainable fuel source for both the farm and the venue. We’re deeply committed to farming in a way that protects and nurtures our landscape, and our ongoing research into willow-based compost offers an eco-friendly alternative to more commercial options.
And when they’re not busy with all of that, the team are often found supporting The Barns behind the scenes, tending to the beautiful surroundings and even driving Miss Flo — our beloved wedding tractor — for tractor and trailer rides during your drinks reception.
In short, the team here are the heartbeat of the farm, and we wouldn’t be anything without them.
Sustainability at Our Farm
Ensuring our business operates in an efficient, sustainable and environmentally sensitive manner is of paramount importance to us. On the farming side, we minimise chemical use on our growing crops, created woodland, manage and maintain hedgerows as habitats, and plant specific areas of wildflowers and plants to provide food for insects, birds and butterflies.
In the venue, we have strict waste management policies to minimise waste and maximise recycling, and our converted barns are heated and powered by renewable energy (via our biomass boiler, which we grow fuel for onsite, and an array of solar panels).
We're committed to a forward-thinking, scientifically driven approach to sustainability, ensuring the land we manage remains in production but contributes to industry-wide net zero goals.
You can find out more about the research projects we are currently involved in below.Education
Our family have been farming here for over 100 years, and we are committed to showing people where their food comes from and how it is produced.
As well as participating in LEAF Open Farm Sunday in June every year, we host educational visits for all ages (and not just schools either; for any group interested in learning more about agriculture). We can offer a limited number of fully funded visits each year, with content and activities specifically tailored to the curriculum (for schools groups) – please contact us to speak to the team and find out more.
