Church Farm, Ardeley

What Church Farm, Ardeley does

Church Farm Ardeley is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) operating a 170-acre diversified farm enterprise in Ardeley, near Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK. The business is built on a closed-loop field-to-fork model: 130+ fruit varieties, free-range pedigree livestock (Red Poll and Black Angus cattle, Berkshire and British Lop pigs, Black Welsh mountain sheep, Large White sows), 350 laying hens, and a range of vegetables and herbs are produced on-farm and supplied into the company's own retail and hospitality outlets. These include the on-site farm shop and butchery, the farm cafe, and the Jolly Waggoner pub, supplemented by a Shopify-based online farm shop with a weekly food box home delivery subscription.

The business serves four primary customer segments. The first is individual families and day visitors purchasing Farm Day Passes, seasonal activities, woodland play, and food box subscriptions. The second is the corporate market, where the farm monetises ESG and CSR budgets through structured volunteering days, team building, and group events for 10 to 500+ attendees, with named clients including GSK, PWC, Just Eat, innocent, RenRe, Cytivia, and Hilti. The third is the education segment, delivering curriculum-aligned school visits, children's birthday parties, and accredited training in partnership with North Hertfordshire College. The fourth is the social care segment, delivered through the Rural Care programme, which provides training and work experience for adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs on a fee-per-support-tier basis.

Technology infrastructure is intentionally lightweight and standard. Operations rely on Shopify for e-commerce, Checkfront for booking and reservation management across day passes, camping, glamping, and cabin hire, and standard payment processors for transactions. The farm also operates Aldenham Country Park as a sister site. There is no proprietary software platform, no disclosed AI/ML capability, and no external funding; surplus is reinvested into the farm and Rural Care programme under the CIC structure. Revenue is generated across eight streams covering retail, hospitality, accommodation, subscriptions, day-visit ticketing, and professional services to corporates.

Name

Church Farm, Ardeley

Legal name

Church Farm Ardeley CIC

Website

https://churchfarmardeley.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Church Farm Ardeley is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company operating a 170-acre diversified farm enterprise in Hertfordshire, UK, serving individual visitors, corporate clients, schools, and social care participants through farm retail, cafe, pub, accommodation, and a Rural Care programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agritourism and Social Enterprise Farming

NAICS

Poultry and Egg Production (1123), Hog and Pig Farming (11221), Sheep and Goat Farming (1124), Hay Farming (111940)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm Stays & Agritourism Lodges (THAMADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Farm-to-Table & Agritourism Dining Experiences (Farm Visits, Harvest Meals) (THAJAGAK), Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE)

Keywords

• Agritourism services
• Farm-based education
• Farm shop retail
• Glamping accommodation
• Social enterprise farming

Headquarters

HQ city

Ardeley, Stevenage

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Farm Shop and Butchery Sales: On-site farm shop selling home-produced meat, eggs, vegetables, fruit, bread, dairy, and grocery staples. The butchery supplies all farm produce to the shop, cafe, pub, and food box scheme. Revenue is generated through individual customer purchases at retail prices.
2. Farm Cafe: On-site cafe open 7 days a week serving breakfast and lunch made from farm produce. Revenue from food and beverage sales to day visitors and campers.
3. Jolly Waggoner Pub: Traditional 17th-century village pub operated opposite the farm entrance, serving Hertfordshire beers and food made from farm produce. Revenue from food and drink sales.
4. Camping, Glamping and Cabin Hire: Wild camping pitches, glamping bell tents, and rustic wooden cabins available for booking. Revenue from multi-night accommodation stays, with add-ons including campfire packages, BBQ hire, and bedding upgrades.
5. Farm Day Passes and Activities: Day visitors purchase farm day passes granting access to the farm trail, woodland play, and animal encounters. Additional paid activities include lamb bottle feeding, goat walking, egg collecting, tractor rides, and fairy trails.
6. Food Box Delivery Scheme: Weekly food box delivery service supplying home-produced meat, vegetables, and farm essentials direct to customers' doors.
7. Rural Care Programme Fees: Co-farmers with learning disabilities or mental health issues are charged fees according to their support needs (low, medium, high). The programme provides training and work experience and generates income alongside charitable donations.
8. Corporate Events and Volunteering: Businesses book corporate volunteering days, team building events, and ESG partnership programmes. Activities include habitat creation, sustainable food growing, infrastructure improvement, and supporting Rural Care. Catering and accommodation can also be bundled.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Church Farm Ardeley operates a not-for-profit, 170-acre integrated farm in Hertfordshire selling on-site visitor experiences (Farm Day Pass, woodland play, animal encounters, seasonal activities), overnight accommodation (wild camping, glamping bell tents and rustic wood cabins), food and drink (Farm Shop and Butchery, Farm Cafe, Jolly Waggoner pub), a weekly home-delivery food box scheme, a Rural Care programme for adults with learning disabilities, educational visits for schools, and corporate ESG volunteering and team-building events. All food is produced on the farm through a closed-loop field-to-fork system supplying its own retail and hospitality outlets.

Product overview

Church Farm Ardeley is a not-for-profit community interest company operating a diversified social enterprise centred on sustainable farming, food production, education, and care services across 170 acres of Hertfordshire countryside. The core product portfolio consists of visitor experiences (Farm Day Passes, seasonal activities, woodland play, and fairy trails), accommodation services (wild camping, glamping bell tents, and rustic wood cabins), and food retail (on-site Farm Shop, Butchery, Cafe, and the Jolly Waggoner Pub). The business integrates a Rural Care Programme providing training for people with learning disabilities and mental health needs, alongside educational farm visits for schools. Additional offerings include corporate ESG volunteering events, birthday parties, and a weekly food box delivery scheme. All food production—from orchard fruits and soft fruits to vegetables, herbs, and free-range livestock (Red Poll and Black Angus cattle, Berkshire pigs, Black Welsh mountain sheep)—supplies the farm's own retail outlets, creating a closed field-to-fork system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Farm Day Pass Day visit ticket granting access to Church Farm's farm trail, woodland play area, Bear Hunt activity, Farm Activity Booklet with puzzles and games, and free parking. Includes the opportunity to see cattle, sheep, goats, alpacas, pigs, ducks, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, turkeys and geese. Available to book online; under 2's free and dogs welcome.
• Camping, Glamping and Cabin Stays On-farm overnight accommodation offering wild camping pitches, 5-metre glamping bell tents sleeping up to 2 adults and 3 children, and rustic wood cabins with double beds and wood burners. Stays include free farm entry and access to woodland play, with optional add-ons such as campfire packages, BBQ hire, breakfast boxes and bedding upgrades.
• Farm Shop and Butchery On-site retail store selling fresh produce including free-range meat from Church Farm's own rare and pedigree breeds (Red Poll and Black Angus cattle, Berkshire and British Lop pigs, Black Welsh mountain sheep), seasonal fruits and vegetables, local bakery bread, fresh eggs, jams, pickles and chutneys. Open daily 9am-4pm.
• Church Farm Cafe Farm cafe serving breakfast, lunch, hot sandwiches, cakes and barista coffee made from locally-roasted beans. Open 9am-3:30pm on weekdays and 9am-4pm on weekends and school holidays, with many menu items made from farm produce.
• Jolly Waggoner Pub 17th-century traditional village pub located opposite the farm entrance. Serves homemade soups, prime beef burgers, steaks and local Hertfordshire beers, with a large garden, log fires in winter, and dishes built around farm produce.
• Rural Care Programme Education and care programme providing training and work experience for adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues. Co-farmers work in mixed ability teams on farm tasks, with accredited training delivered in partnership with North Hertfordshire College and fees tiered by support needs (low, medium, high).
• School and Kids Club Farm Visits Educational trips for schools, children's clubs and youth groups including guided farm tours, self-guided tours, farm animal feeding, and field-to-fork lunch packages with curriculum-aligned activities.
• Corporate ESG Volunteering and Group Events Structured corporate volunteering and team-building programmes supporting ESG and CSR objectives, with hands-on activities in habitat creation, biodiversity projects, regenerative farming and Rural Care support. Accommodates groups from 10 to 500+ attendees and can be bundled with catering and on-farm accommodation. Corporate partners include RenRe, Cytivia, Hilti, GSK, innocent, Just Eat, Mischief PR, PWC, Wavemaker and Willmott Dixon.
• Weekly Food Box Delivery Scheme Weekly food box delivery service featuring farm-produced meat, eggs, vegetables and essentials delivered direct to customers' doors via the Shopify online farm shop. Saturday click-and-collect is also available.
• Little Farmers Birthday Parties Build-your-own children's birthday party packages including private wood cabin hire for up to 20 children, farm day passes, optional activities such as egg collecting, lamb bottle feeding, goat walking and tractor/trailer rides, plus catering options.
• Internships and Volunteering Programme Voluntary internship programme offering 4-month to 1-year placements with on-farm accommodation (caravan, shared caravan or cabin), food and water supplied from the farm. Work covers farm tasks, retail, cafe, events, marketing and Rural Care support, and is open to gap year, graduate, postgraduate and Erasmus students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Animals live on average twice as long as those in intensive farm systems
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• RenReminorOthersListed as a partner and supporter of Church Farm's corporate events and ESG volunteering programmes. Nature of support not specified in detail.
• CytiviaminorOthersListed as a partner and supporter of Church Farm's corporate events and ESG volunteering programmes.
• HiltiminorOthersListed as a partner and supporter of Church Farm's corporate events and ESG volunteering programmes.
• GSK (GlaxoSmithKline)minorOthersListed as a partner and supporter of Church Farm's corporate events and ESG volunteering programmes.
• innocentminorOthersListed as a partner and supporter of Church Farm's corporate events and ESG volunteering programmes.
• Just EatminorOthersListed as a partner and supporter of Church Farm's corporate events and ESG volunteering programmes.
• Mischief PRminorOthersListed as a partner and supporter. Produced a CSR day film for Church Farm showcasing corporate volunteering events.
• PWCminorOthersListed as a partner and supporter of Church Farm's corporate events and ESG volunteering programmes.
• WavemakerminorOthersListed as a partner and supporter of Church Farm's corporate events and ESG volunteering programmes.
• Willmott DixonminorOthersListed as a partner and supporter of Church Farm's corporate events and ESG volunteering programmes.
• North Hertfordshire CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch Farm works in partnership with North Hertfordshire College to provide accredited training for their students with learning disabilities on the farm. Students gain hands-on farm experience alongside Rural Care co-farmers.
• Aldenham Country ParkcoreOthersChurch Farm also runs Aldenham Country Park, extending its events and team building offerings to a second site. Corporate hiring options include both Church Farm and Aldenham Country Park venues.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Secretts Farm: Surrey farm shop, garden centre, cafe, and events venue with pick-your-own. Comparable diversified UK farm combining food retail, hospitality, and seasonal visitor offerings.
• Daylesford Farm: Cotswolds organic farm with farm shop, cafe, cookery school, and home-delivery offering. Comparable UK farm-to-fork destination combining food retail, hospitality, and educational experiences.
• Cotswold Farm Park: Adam Henson-led rare-breed farm park with farm shop, cafe, camping, school visits, and events. Strong overlap in rare-breed livestock, educational visits, and on-farm accommodation.
• Odds Farm Park: Buckinghamshire family farm park with animals, play, seasonal events, and birthday parties. Comparable UK farm destination focused on family visitors and on-farm experiences.
• Jimmy's Farm: Suffolk rare-breed farm with restaurant, farm shop, events, and TV-led brand. Comparable UK agritourism model blending rare-breed livestock, food service, and visitor experiences.
• Darts Farm: Devon-based diversified farm shop, cafe/restaurant, butchery, fishmonger, and events venue operating on a working farm. Closely comparable UK agritourism destination combining food retail, hospitality, and on-farm experiences.
• The Pink Pig Farm: Lincolnshire farm with farm shop, restaurant, indoor and outdoor play, and seasonal events. Direct comparability as a UK family-oriented farm destination combining retail, F&B, and visitor activities.

Emerging players

• Humble by Nature: Monmouthshire farm-based education and experience provider offering courses, farm days, and rural skills experiences. Comparable niche in farm-led learning and immersive experiences, though smaller scale.

Broad incumbents

• Riverford Organic Farmers: Large UK organic veg-box and farm shop business with on-farm events and a restaurant. Comparable field-to-fork subscription model and farm-experience overlay, though at materially greater scale.

Others

• Rare Breeds Survival Trust: UK charity promoting and conserving native rare livestock breeds. Thematically aligned with Church Farm's rare-breed livestock (Berkshire, British Lop, Red Poll, Welsh Mountain sheep) and supports the same ecological-farming positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/churchfarmAR
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChurchFarmArdeley
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/church-farm-ardeley-hertfordshire

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Church Farm, Ardeley