About our Smallholding

EST. 2013

Our Story

The Paddock is our family’s 6-acre smallholding on the Northumberland/Gateshead border, which we have owned since 2002. It became the foundation for our small family business, which I (Laura) started in 2013 after two years travelling in New Zealand, where I volunteered on eco farms and conservation projects. Inspired by sustainable living, I returned home with the idea of turning our smallholding into meaningful, purposeful work. Mike joined Laura to help run The Paddock full time in 2018.

The Paddock began as a fruit and veg box scheme in 2013, delivering local, seasonal and organically sourced produce (where possible) across the North East. In 2016, we opened a farm shop in High Spen, in a historic building once used by my grandfather’s family business. The shop closed in 2024, and we now operate solely online as a small, independent, family-run business passionate about what we do.

We’ve come a long way from our early days of a small flock of chickens and selling eggs, potatoes, broad beans and courgettes at the farm gate. Today, we offer a range of seasonal fruit and vegetable boxes in different sizes and prices, along with individually priced organic produce so you can build your own box. There’s no commitment required, with one-off, weekly and fortnightly options, as well as bespoke hamper choices available year-round.

The Paddock is about bringing fresh, home-grown and organically sourced food (where possible) direct to your door, food that tastes as it should, the way it used to. We’re proud to have been supported by The Prince’s Trust Explore Enterprise Programme and the Regional Growth Fund, and to have received various awards.

Never air-freighted

Chemical Free

Palm Oil Free

Compostable Packaging

OUR APPROACH

No Dig, Growing Organically

We grow on a small scale using no-dig, organic methods, and source the rest from trusted local farms and UK growers. While not certified organic, all produce is herbicide and pesticide free. We operate transparently, working with a network of family-run and community farms to provide a year-round seasonal service.

Our horses have always been a very important part of life at The Paddock. We try to work the land using our horses, from harrowing the grass to muck spreading but each one of them are part of our family.

OUR EGGS

Laura's Layers

Laura’s Layers are the lively, free-roaming chickens at The Paddock, producing the delicious eggs we’re known for. With six acres to explore, they spend their days wandering freely, sometimes even laying eggs in the most unexpected spots, before settling into fox-proof orchard housing during cooler months. Our flock has grown over the years through rescued hens and chicks we raise ourselves, always following a no-kill, back-to-basics approach, with male chicks either rehomed or kept on-site. Demand for our eggs is high so we supplement our supply with trusted local producers. If you wish to purchase eggs from Laura's Layers only, you can order here, please note we do not ship eggs nationwide, minimum order requirements & delivery charges apply.