The Velcourt operation at Hadlow Place also takes in the Fairlawne Estate and includes woodland and grassland as well as 1,100 hectares of combinable crops and the 80ha of fruit for which the farm is rightly renowned.

The fruit, grown to supermarket giant Tesco’s exacting standards, consists of 10ha of Conference pears, pollinated with Comice, 26ha of fully-irrigated Gala and 4ha of the new Kanzi club variety. The other 40ha is given over to Bramleys.

Following the closure of Hadlow Place’s own packhouse five years ago, the farm now uses the impressive facilities of neighbour, Adrian Scripps Ltd, at Moat Farm, Five Oak Green. In a clear demonstration of the partnerships that Velcourt likes to build with local farmers, while Adrian Scripps Ltd packs the Hadlow Place apples James Sheldrick’s team looks after 140ha of arable land at Moat Farm. Velcourt's fruit manager is Nigel Gibb who is based at Hadlow Place Farms in Kent.