Tucked into the rolling countryside just outside Melton, Windy Ridge Farm is a shining example of what makes our local farming community so special — small-scale, family-run, and absolutely committed to supplying the local area with food that is produced ethically, sustainably, and close to home.
We spent a brilliant afternoon with Richard and Katy, who have been farming here for 14 and a half years with their two children (now 17 and 14). Before they arrived, the farm had been home to the Woodward family for an a further 4 generations — meaning Windy Ridge carries not just livestock, but years of rural heritage.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes them so special.
Free-Range Eggs for Rutland’s Best
Windy Ridge is home to 1,400 free-range hens, producing around 1,200 eggs every single day. Their eggs don’t just stay local — they define local. Around 75% of their eggs go straight to some of Rutland and Leicestershire’s best-known names, including:
Hambleton Hall
Hambleton Bakery
Hart’s Hotel & Kitchen
With the remaining 25% being being sold to other local businesses such as:
Northfield Farm
Vine Farm Dairy
Local village shops
And Oakham Farmers’ Market once a month
No supermarkets. No long miles. Just fresh food, laid locally, and eaten locally.
Bronze Turkeys – A Christmas Tradition
Christmas at Windy Ridge is serious business.
Each year, they rear around 90 Bronze turkeys, brought in as day-old chicks from four different strains to ensure a natural range of sizes — so whether you’re feeding two or twelve, there’s a turkey to fit the table.
What makes them special?
✅ All-female birds for consistent quality
✅ Dry-plucked and hung for flavour
✅ Slow-grown in small groups
✅Fully free-range
Collections take place on 23rd December, meaning customers are taking home a turkey that has been prepared just hours before — not frozen or shipped from miles away.
That’s local food at its absolute best.
Sheep That Live the Way Nature Intended
Windy Ridge also keeps 180 North Country Mule ewes, 150 easy care ewes and 65 Hebredeans, lambing outdoors and raised entirely on grass, not concentrates.
The reasons?
Better animal health
Lower environmental impact
Natural, low-stress lambing
Superior flavour
Lambs are sold directly to abattoirs, continuing the theme of short, transparent supply chains.
Farming for Wildlife, Not Just Production
The farm spans 140 acres, with grazing on an additional 180 acres, and they work closely within environmental schemes — but with some honest frustration.
Hedge-laying is a big focus on the farm, creating habitats for birds, insects, and small mammals. The benefits are clear:
Better biodiversity
Natural shelter for livestock
Stronger field boundaries
A healthier landscape for the long term
This is farming for the future — not just the season.
A Local Farm Feeding Its Local Community
What stood out most during our visit was how rooted Windy Ridge the local area:
Local ownership
Local customers
Local supply chains
Local environmental work
No national contracts. No anonymous food miles. Just a family producing real food for real people — right here.
Why Windy Ridge Matters to Our Community
Windy Ridge shows what’s possible when farming stays local:
Money stays in the regional economy
Food is fresher and more traceable
Land is managed responsibly
Communities stay connected to where their food comes from
It’s exactly the kind of farming the Rutland Agricultural Society is proud to celebrate and support.
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