FRESH. LOCAL. LOVED
Sapling Home Farm is a new venture, developed in 2011 by myself, Ben
Sapling Eggs (Sapling Home Farm) was established in September 2011 by myself and my husband Ben; where it has been our home for the last 10 years; where we have raised our 3 children Lydia (12), James (10) and Harrison (8). The farm is situated in the village of Lower Peover, just outside Knutsford.
Our aim was simple; to establish a future for the family farm by producing quality food that can be enjoyed by the local community. Fresh.Local.Loved. Over the last 10 years we have worked hard to sell as many of our eggs direct from the farm to the consumer.
We now employ more than 15 people at the farm including a farm manager, office staff and delivery drivers.
BEN
Having grown up on a farm, and been very hands on throughout my childhood and younger years, I have always had a strong desire to continue to work within farming. I believe there is an increasing need for younger people to work in the British farming industry to ensure food security within the United Kingdom.
On completion of my BSc (Hons) in Rural land management at Harper Adams University, I worked in Kent for Cluttons and qualified as a rural practice Chartered Surveyor. I then attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and commissioned into the Black Watch as an Infantry Platoon Commander. In 2009, having married and had our first child we decided it was time to return home and develop our dream of having our own business, and raising our family in a farm environment. With a few years of research, planning and development we moved in to Sapling Home Farm in July 2011, with business commencing from September the same year.
MAXINE
Since marrying Ben in 2007 within 2 years I went from an Army wife to a Farmer’s wife! Prior to meeting Ben, I had no previous farming experience, although I was used to a rural setting as I originate from The New Forest in Hampshire.
Although I had no farming knowledge as such, I do bring a background of marketing and business within the food industry. On completing my degree in Business Studies at Sheffield Hallam University in 1999 and immediately started working for H.J. Heinz Co. where I stayed for 8 years.
During this time my roles included merchandising, customer and brands marketing. From then I worked for Moy Parkin the further processed chicken industry working on retailer own brand products, mainly for Tesco and Waitrose. I worked with all the major retailers over my career, so I know a lot about food, the supply chain and supermarkets!
After having our second child in 2011, I gave up work and focus my attention on helping grow our family business.
