Elm Farm site

The main offices are located at Elm Farm in recently refurbished barns and outbuildings. The refurbishment thas been carried out to high environmental standards including traditional materials, renewable energy and water capture and reuse. Further details of the refurbishment can be found here.

Conference centre

The Organic Research Centre, Elm Farm’s conference facility is situated within a recently restored, magnificent 18th century barn, and features underfloor heating, modern lighting and disabled access. It is set in a beautiful rural location convenient to the M4 and airports, and has on-site parking. The barn can accommodate different group sizes, from small groups of 10-20 people to larger groups of 80-100 in flexible meeting areas. There is an integral kitchen area and catering using organic food is always available. The organic farm trail is also a wonderful facility for visitors to the conference centre. More information… The Organic Research Centre’s new conference centre is now available for bookings. Please contact us at 01488 658298 or email us at bookings@organicresearchcentre.com.

Education garden and biodiversity zones

The Education Garden is a group of raised beds used mainly for growing vegetables. School groups and other visitors to Elm Farm can experience food production using techniques that are in harmony with nature. We learn to create natural fertility and recycle nutrients, and to use a variety of natural methods for protecting the vegetables from pests and diseases.

Farm trail

The trail is a footpath, open to the public at all times, which follows a circular route through the farm including several areas noted for biodiversity and conservation value. The trail is about two and half miles long (up to 1.5 hours to complete). There are positions on the trail with interesting observation points and benches, all footpath stiles have been replaced with pedestrian gates, and there are also bridges over ditches and streams. Further information about the farm trail can be found here, and two activity leaflets(for age 10-15 and for younger visitors) and the answers are also available.

Wakelyns agro-forestry

Wakelyns Agroforestry is an organic research farm certified by the Soil Association. It is also a part of the Organic Research Centre, a charitable trust based at Hamstead Marshall, near Newbury. Wakelyns Agroforestry uses ‘alley cropping’, where the trees are grown in ‘production hedges’, narrow strips of trees orientated north-south. This minimises the shading of the crops growing in the ‘alleys’. The ‘production hedges’ are a form of ‘woodland edge’, recognised by ecologists as an ecosystem with maximal biological activity.