It is with great sadness that the Clarke family and everyone at Manor Farm Fruits announce the passing of Roy Clarke, who died peacefully on Friday, 3rd April 2026.

Roy was a devoted husband, father and an incredibly hardworking man who was admired and loved by so many. His vision and determination helped shape Manor Farm Fruits into the family business it is today. In 1971, Roy planted the farm’s very first strawberry crop – a decision that transformed the future of the business and began the journey that has welcomed generations of visitors to the farm ever since.

Roy’s beloved wife Janet, along with his children Robert, Simon and Elaine, are heartbroken by their loss. However, his legacy, values and memories will continue to live on through the family, the farm and everyone whose lives he touched.

He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

At Manor Farm Fruits, growing is what we do best. With years of experience producing high-quality fruit crops, we’ve always had a passion for creating beautiful spaces for visitors to enjoy. Over the years, our flower fields have continued to evolve, becoming one of the highlights of the summer season here on the farm.

Our journey began with our hugely popular sunflower field, which quickly became a favourite destination for families, photographers and visitors looking to enjoy the colours of summer. Seeing how much joy the flowers brought inspired us to expand even further.

Last year we introduced our dahlia field, alongside colourful displays of cosmos, asters and sweet peas. Originally designed as a walk-through photo experience where people could enjoy the rows of colour, the field quickly grew into something more. Due to the fantastic response from visitors, we transformed it into a Pick Your Own flower field, allowing guests to create their own beautiful bouquets straight from the farm.

This year we took on a brand-new challenge with the introduction of tulips, grown carefully under cover in a polytunnel. It has been exciting to experiment with new varieties and extend what we can offer throughout the seasons.

We’ve also added lavender planted alongside the dahlias, sitting beautifully on the bank to create a stunning visual display filled with colour, scent and texture – making the flower field an experience to enjoy with all the senses.

And we’re only just getting started.

Looking ahead to 2027, we are continuing to develop and expand our flower field with the aim of becoming the place to visit a flower field in Staffordshire. From new planting schemes and seasonal displays to even more immersive visitor experiences, we’re excited for what’s to come.

We can’t wait to welcome you to see the fields in bloom.

At Manor Farm Fruits, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do as we work towards our long-term Net Zero goals. We are continually investing in more sustainable farming practices that reduce waste, improve efficiency and lower our environmental impact.

One of the biggest improvements has been on our Maize Maze fields, where we are now incorporating recycled coir from our strawberry growing system back into the soil. This has significantly improved soil structure and increased organic matter levels, making the land much easier to cultivate. Healthier soils mean we require less intensive machinery work, helping us reduce diesel usage and lower our carbon footprint.

We are also generating renewable energy through our 40kW solar panel system installed on the roof of our packhouse. This helps power our day-to-day operations using clean energy generated right here on the farm.

In addition, we operate a biomass boiler fuelled by recycled wood from old pallets. Before being used as biomass fuel, these pallets are reused wherever possible – including during farm events and for storage – ensuring we maximise their lifespan before creating energy.

Water conservation is another key focus area for us. We work extremely hard to improve irrigation efficiency across the farm by using the latest monitoring systems. This helps to maximise the potential of the plants whilst keeping waste water to a minimum. The farm has been using the Hortiplant software where our carbon foot print can be continually monitored and improved. 

Through continuous improvement and innovation, we remain committed to farming responsibly and building a more sustainable future for generations to come.