About The Barlows Lodge Farm

Set in idyllic English countryside, Barlows Lodge has been at the centre of farming activity for hundreds of years.

Previously known as Hose Lodge, the farm was renamed in the 1920s when new owners decided to set it apart from no less than three other Hose Lodges in the vicinity, much to the relief to the local postman.

Years later, the farm was inherited by Philip Stanley, who devoted his life to his family and work as a sheep and arable farmer, but sadly died in 2004.

Barlows Lodge then passed to his wife, Hazel Stanley, but the loss of Philip necessitated a major review of the business.

Estate manager Graham Allen was appointed in 2005 and a transformation began as Hazel put in place plans to create a diversified rural enterprise that would allow the family to continue to make Barlows Lodge their home and livelihood.

Early events included the sale of Kaye Wood to a neighbouring farm and work on the farmhouse and outbuildings, which needed the usual refurbishments as they reached their 100th birthday. All the work has been carried out to a very high standard, by local tradesmen where possible.

In addition, access from Colston Lane has been improved in consultation with Leicestershire Highways Department, allowing heavy goods vehicles to enter the site, while a footpath to the side of the driveway has been made good for pedestrians, and a rickety style replaced by a metal kissing gate.

Colston Lane is, in fact, an ancient drover road identifiable by its wide verges and ancient hedgerows and wash-dyke running across Barlows Lodge adds to the scene.

Our business is proud to have achieved entry level Environmental Stewardship status under the Natural England scheme, with recent developments in our mission including the encouragement of owls with nesting boxes (several chicks have been raised already) and a programme of natural vermin control with the farm cats and owls the main players!

You will also find our chickens in bespoke accommodated with plenty of space for a full life.

Although a diversified business, Barlows Lodge is still an arable farm, with Wheat No 2 and Winter Rape grown in 2012. Goat kids are raised on site by a tenant, eventually for milk production, and pasture is let for grazing.

Alongside this we have expanded our container storage facilities for customers in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

With 12 years' experience in storage container management, waterproofing and security are our main concerns. We provide containers with Bitumastic roofs and white interiors. Access is possible seven days a week during daylight hours.

In addition to a lockable entry gate to the site, each container has a unique locking system and there are multiple CCTV cameras, all infra-red equipped and capable of number plate recognition.

Designated parking for customers is provided in a floodlit yard and we are in no doubt that you will be impressed by both our facilities and our people. Added to which when you need to visit, there is the opportunity to call in at one of our local world-renowned Stilton creameries and return home with some finest "historic blue" you are ever likely to taste.

Adapting to pressure on UK farms

Pressures in the UK’s agricultural sector have risen significantly in recent years in the wake of increased labour, fuel and insurance costs alongside uncertainties over future government support and extra workloads in some areas of compliance.

As a result, diversification has become a lifeblood to the farming economy for those bold enough to re-assess their skill sets and develop a new business model.

As we embarked on this path, Barlows of Belvoir choose to keep to its core values. That is to say focus on being of benefit the farming economy; support rural employment and support the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (R.A.B.I), which gives support to farming people in hardship.