A Cumbrian bakery has launched its first flour range.
Lovingly Artisan, near Kendal, has been working with Eden Yard, near Penrith, to grow and process the crops to create the flour from seed to table.
It is now offering four types of flour.
For several years, Lovingly Artisan founders Aidan Monks and Catherine Connor had explored the idea of growing their own grain to supply the bakery.
Their long-standing conversations with Dr Andrew Wilkinson, a leading figure in reintroducing heritage grains to UK farming, helped shape the vision.
They searched for a farm that would be suitable and willing to experiment.
In 2022, Aidan and Catherine mentioned their plants to Ben and Jannike Taylor, who run Eden Yard, which produces rapeseed cooking oil.
Ben and Jannike operate a 600 acre farm, which specialises in growing varied arable crops – and had grown crops suitable for use by a biscuit manufacturer.
In autumn 2023, just under eight acres were sown with heritage rye under organic principles. The first crop was harvested in August 2024, yielding around 12 tonnes.
Lovingly Artisan established its own flour mill and bakery in Burneside, which opened early last year. Production has since expanded, with more heritage grains now grown and milled locally.
Aidan and Catherine said: “We’ve been working towards this for several years, and once we found the right farming partner, everything came together quickly.
“In just two years, we’ve learned a huge amount and successfully shortened our supply chain.
“By working with locally grown crops, we’re improving food security, supporting sustainable farming, and creating breads with a true sense of place. The natural next step was to make these flours available more widely.”
