Celebratory plaque laid at foot of 28-year old tree commemorates partnership rooted in shared commitment to “forever farming”
Leading grower Barfoots has celebrated 30 years of membership with charitable organisation Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF).
A ceremonial plaque has been laid at the foot of a 28-year-old oak tree planted at the entrance of Barfoot’s Little Abshot Farm in 1998 to mark the year it became a ‘demonstration farm’.
Barfoots were one of the first members of LEAF, which was established in 1991 to “promote and facilitate the understanding and adoption of more sustainable farming practices, helping to create a resilient food and farming system for future generations”.
The charity is responsible for the LEAF Marque, a certification system for products farmed to high sustainability standards under Integrated Farm Management principles.
The oak was planted by Barfoots co-founder Victor Barfoot and LEAF CEO and co-founder Caroline Drummond MBE.
Drummond had previously worked at Barfoots’ packhouse, stripping sweetcorn prior to her work with LEAF, marking a full-circle moment for both organisations.
The 30th anniversary celebration held in October 2026 began with a breakfast and the unveiling of the plaque, followed by a farm tour and discussions about the future of sustainable agriculture at Barfoot’s Sefter Farm.
For Barfoots, the anniversary also comes during a landmark year, with the company celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026.
Peter Barfoot CBE, chairman at Barfoots, said: “The tree planting day in 1998 was a very proud moment for me and my father. In 2026, our 50th year, I continue to be extremely proud of what we have achieved by looking after the land like we are going to farm forever.
“We’re grateful for the support of LEAF on this journey and continue to look forward together,” he added.
Victor Barfoot passed away in 2001 and Caroline Drummond MBE in 2022. The company said the oak now stands as “a symbol of their respective legacies and long-standing partnership between Barfoots and LEAF in creating food and farming systems”.
David Webster, CEO of LEAF, added: “Seeing that tree today, thriving and now standing strong like Barfoots as one of our LEAF Beacons of Excellence for Regenerative Agriculture, is a beautiful reminder of our shared journey in sustainable farming.”
