The Cross Lanes Organic Farm project is a concept Peter and Sue Coverdale have wanted to develop for many years. In 2002, they purchased the 11 acre site at Cross Lanes Farm and after running the already established free range egg production unit for a while, it was decided to plan for an organic farm shop/café and horticultural centre. On 27th October 2011 the Cross Lanes doors opened. Peter and Sue also run Heritage Coverdale Masonry, a very successful local family business providing stone masonry and restoration services.
Cross Lanes is an eco-friendly centre focusing on living in a sustainable way. We are committed to ensuring the least possible impact on the environment and hold sustainable practice at the heart of what we do. The site features a number of green credentials which will continually be added to as the business develops.
, with sedum planted on the south side and meadow turf planted on the north side. The meadow turf has around 25 varieties of wild flower and grasses in it including yarrow, wild carrot, red campion, cocksfoot, yellow trefoil, sheeps parsley, burnet and corn marigold. Three hebridean sheep have taken up lodgings on our eco roof to help with the management of the grass (alternative lawnmowers!), the sheep are on loan from Phil & Anne Hughes of Greyscar Farm, Bowes. Hebridean's are an ancient hardy mountain rare breed well accustomed to grazing open pasture at high level and have taken very well to their roof lodgings. The sheep have the poshest sheep pen in Durham, constructed by the P&S Coverdale Masonry Contractors team, it is stone built with a tiled roof, wrought iron gate and fencing and wooden slatted ramps up to the eco roof.
Welcome to Cross Lanes Organic Farm
Cross Lanes comprises of an organic café-restaurant with a farm retail shop supporting local producers and a developing horticultural centre. In the shop we have an in house butchers, delicatessen, bakery, general store and craft section. Cross Lanes is run and built entirely on eco principles with organic, local and green thinking at the heart of everything we do. We have a children's play area outside, we have 'sheep on the roof', geese wandering around and pigs in the fields! We are overseen by our carved stone 'Green Man' who heralds the spirit of Cross Lanes, looking down on us from the East Elevation wall.
Cross Lanes Organic Farm is in a convenient location just off the A66 on the outskirts of Barnard Castle. We are approximately 12 miles west of Scotch Corner and 16 miles east of Brough, an ideal stopping facility on a long journey. If you are travelling west along the A66, you'll pass the turn off to Greta Bridge on your left, a turn off to Barnard Castle on your right, you'll pass Rokeby Church on your right and then you'll find Cross Lanes about a mile along on the left signposted Brignall. If you are travelling east along the A66 you'll pass Bowes on your right, a turn off to Barnard Castle on your left, come down the hill and at the bottom there is a turning to Scargill & Reeth on your right and Cross Lanes is the next right signposted Brignall.
