About us

Stephen and Philip Taylor are the third generation of the Taylor family to grow fruit at Lathcoats. The oldest part of the farmhouse dates back to c14 but the Taylor family's connection started in the early 1900s when Lawrence Taylor started to plant up the land with fruit trees. His son Maurice followed on and today grandsons Stephen and Philip continue the tradition.

"Our aim is to provide our farm shop and PYO customers with our own delicious fruit together with the best food from other producers around our region. We'll help cut down the food miles in your shopping baskets.

Our region has some fantastic producers - our typical supplier is a small family business with a real passion for what they do. we currently have around 30 such suppliers and are always looking out for more.

In our fields we have reduced the need for sprays to a minimum. Our strawberries are grown on a tabletop system and with plenty of air circulating around the plants the use of fungicides is greatly reduced. With the fruit no longer resting on soggy straw the problem of slugs disappears.

In our orchards we use pheromone traps and disrupters to control caterpillar pests. Our orchard edges, hedgerows and grasslands are managed to attract beneficial insects which help in the control of pests.

We are proud to be members of the Essex Wildlife Trust and our farm is home to a wide range of plants, birds and animals. Our farmyard swallows are a particular favourite."

Philip Taylor