Farming our Land
Fold Hill: the home of Chewdles
When Ted Grant purchased Fold Hill Farm he had no idea what the future would hold. He was just following in his father’s footsteps, farming the land, striving to be a steward of the Lincolnshire countryside. Little did he know that he would receive an OBE for services to agriculture or found a business that produces thousands of tonnes of pet food every year.
Ted’s son James now manages the 3,000-acre farm, growing oats, barley and wheat as well as premium baby vegetables. He has farmed this land all his life and knows every field like the back of his hand.
Above all, James has inherited his father’s sense of natural soil management. He works hard to ensure that the soil structure of the farm is the best it can be. This is done by working with the natural cycle of the crops, using a system known as integrated crop management.
Crop rotation
Rotating the crops from season to season keeps our soil fertile and packed with nutrients. By carefully choosing what types of crop we grow, the impact of weeds, disease and pests are considerably reduced. This means less artificial protective treatments need to be applied to the ingredients of our dog food.
Soil cultivation
We constantly analyse every field on the farm, mapping out the specific needs of the soil to the nearest centimeter. This is how we know exactly what our crops need to grow – nothing more, nothing less. Once again, this limits the amount of artificial fertilisers we need to use. Wherever possible organic matter is ploughed back into the ground to replace nutrients.
Timeliness is key and we ensure we work with nature not against it, using the weather itself to help break down the soil.
Stewardship
Good soil drainage reduces the risk of flooding or run on into local water sources, while permanent grassbanks and hedges help protect against wind and water erosion. Also, whenever possible, green waste from the farm and the factory is recycled on site.
What does this mean to you and your dog?
Above all, our dedication to farm in an environmentally-responsible way means that you can be sure that the ingredients used in our dog food are of the highest quality.
And we’re just as fussy about the ingredients we don’t grow on the farm.
If we are unable to use local suppliers, we carefully source ingredients ourselves, meaning our suppliers match our own high standards and your high expectations.
