A MULTI award-winning organic farm estate launched its own charitable trust to promote sustainability, healthy eating and give disadvantaged children from urban areas an opportunity to experience nature and the countryside.

Rhug Estate, based near Corwen in North Wales, welcomes tens of thousands of visitors every year and has raised money for many UK and international organisations and campaigns, including the NSPCC, Awyr Las, Hope House Hospice, and humanitarian appeals for Ukraine.

More than 1,500 school children enjoyed trips to the 12-500 acre site – which includes a farm shop, drive thru, retail operation, sustainable meat processing plant and Wild Beauty collection – in 2023 alone, along with learners and representatives from colleges, universities, agricultural institutions, business groups and more.

With the Charity Commission having now approved the formation of Rhug Charitable Trust, Estate owner Lord Newborough and his 100-strong team have big plans going forward.

“The aim of the charitable trust was to support charities and organisations in our community and across the country,” he said.

“But also, to advance education across a number of curriculum areas, share knowledge about healthy eating and nature-friendly land management and to open up facilities for recreation, particularly to those who might not have access to the benefits of being in the countryside, whatever their age or background.”

Lord Newborough added: “I am very proud to say the Estate has worked closely with schools, colleges, universities, and community groups for many, many years – it’s an important part of our philosophy of educating and informing people about what we do.

“And after several months of hard work I am delighted that we now have a charitable arm to the Estate.

“The funding we can access will enable us to expand our work, giving many more people the chance to experience the countryside, learn about nature-friendly land management and healthy eating, which are so important to us.

“We are excited to see how this develops and already have lots of ideas in the pipeline, so watch this space.”

For more information on Rhug Charitable Trust (Charity Number 1206365), email Estate Administrator Janice Dale at janicedale@rhug.co.uk.

For more news and information including upcoming events and vacancies with the team at Rhug Organic Farm Estate, visit the website www.rhug.co.uk and follow them on social media at @rhugestate.

A CELEBRATED organic farm estate grew its reputation as a pioneer in sustainable business with a series of net zero triumphs including a move towards ‘regenerative agriculture’.

The 12,500-acre Rhug Estate, based near Corwen in North Wales, is renowned for its carbon neutral processes and ground-breaking systems.

Led by owner Lord Newborough, the award-winning Estate did even more to reinforce that reputation in the last 12 months, unveiling a series of green energy projects ranging from 4KW to 5MW – including wind, solar, hydro and heat pumps – and receiving plaudits for the international success of its Rhug Wild Beauty range, which uses ingredients foraged on site.

There was also a period of “significant investment” in measuring and monitoring their carbon footprint, as well as reducing emissions.

“Sustainability and protecting the environment is integral to the ethos of Rhug Estate,” said Lord Newborough.

“The significant investment we have made aims to improve carbon sequestration, reduce emissions and reach net zero across our varied and diverse portfolio, but this is just the start of our journey – we have so much more to do.”

Pivotal developments included fitting a hydrogen electrolyser to one of the Rhug delivery vans that travels to London twice a week, reducing exhaust emissions by up to 80%, and fuel combustion by 20%. In addition to that the utility vehicles used every day by shepherds and stockman were converted to gas, leading to huge savings on diesel.

Meanwhile, the cutting plant recently introduced an electrical forklift, replacing the original tractor used to move items around the site; staff have undertaken carbon literacy training to sharpen their knowledge on climate change; measures have been implemented to optimise the efficiency of livestock systems; recycling containers and processes have been upgraded, and the Estate now collaborates with the Too Good To Go scheme, a food waste app that enables customers to reserve and collect surprise food bags that would otherwise be thrown away if not sold.

However, one of the biggest steps was the introduction of ‘regenerative agriculture’ methods, transitioning to a rotational grazing system to support soil health, as well as improving the overall efficiency of livestock systems.

“These are a list of the things we are doing as we continue to raise standards while innovating and hopefully inspiring other organisations in Wales and beyond,” said Lord Newborough.

“We have promoted the use of organic and sustainable farming practices for more than 20 years, and as a result, our recent carbon footprint assessment confirmed we are carbon negative, which is an amazing achievement and makes me very proud of everyone here at the Estate.

“The result means on-farm carbon sequestration outweighs the total emissions associated with daily operations, a comparison being approximately 1600 tonnes of carbon (CO2e) each year, the equivalent to the emissions from 900 single flights to New York.”

He added: “From agroecology to efficiency, we constantly and consistently focus on all areas of the business, notably the farm shop, take away and drive thru, which led to an energy saving of 20,000kWh of electricity between September 2022 and September 2023, and a carbon saving of 4000kgCO2e.

“That has included utilising electricity from our own solar and wind energy generation and looking for opportunities to develop new systems on-site.

“In the last three years we have made remarkable progress. Through the gradual implementation of sustainable practices across all our businesses we have accomplished great change, and we continue to do so.

“We are constantly pushing ourselves to do even better, knowing that every effort we make contributes to a brighter and more sustainable future for the next generation.”

For more news and information, visit the website www.rhug.co.uk and follow them on social media at @rhugestate.

For more information on Wild Beauty, visit www.rhugwildbeauty.com or follow them on social media @rhugwildbeauty.

RHUG ESTATE will serve up lashings of Christmas cheer for visitors over the coming weeks.

The 12,500-acre organic farm estate, based near Corwen in North Wales, is celebrating the yuletide holidays with a series of events and activities for all the family to enjoy.

First up is a two-day food and craft fair, beginning on Saturday December 9, where local producers, crafters and artists will be on hand to share recipes, samples, and showcase their wares.

A selection of Rhug’s award-winning artisan suppliers will also be on hand to speak to, there will be delicious festive treats to enjoy, and a selection of winter warmers including pre-made and bespoke hampers.

On the Sunday (December 10) Santa will be at Rhug – he’s good friends with Lord Newborough and the team! – and ready to welcome children from 10am-4pm. He may even bring one of his reindeer and have a present for you.

And on the following Thursday evening (December 14), you can join the annual Rhug Chapel Service before meeting back at the farm shop and café for carol singing, mulled wine and food, which will be available until 8pm.

December is one of the busiest times of the year at Rhug Estate, and with up to 500 of their award-winning organic Dee Valley Bronze turkeys, meat boxes and geese up for grabs, Lord Newborough urged people to get in touch soon and not miss out.

“The festive events are always a firm favourite as this is such a fabulous place to be at Christmas time, with the amazing atmosphere and the wide range of food we produce in time for the holiday season,” he said.

“We look forward to seeing you all and encourage anyone planning to pre-book one of our organic turkeys or geese to do so quickly as they are already selling fast.”

Lord Newborough added: “Demand is always very high in the weeks before what is for many people the most important meal of the year, and as our turkeys are so very special – they are fed a diet of finest organic oats grown right here at Estate, have plenty of space to roam and exercise and even listen to classical music – customers are always keen to be at the front of the queue.

“We even get orders from as far away as Singapore and Hong Kong, and this year we are offering a wider range of sizes to choose from, so we recommend you order yours soon!”

For more information and to book your place at one of Rhug’s Christmas events, visit www.rhug.co.uk. Follow them on social media at @rhugestate.

To pre-book your turkey or goose in time for Christmas, call 01490 413000, email contact@rhug.co.uk or visit the website: www.rhug.co.uk/product/rhug-estate-organic-dee-valley-bronze-turkey.