Our Farm

Millbank Farm is a sixth generation family farm in Killinchy, County Down. We grow over 40 varieties of vegetables from swedes to squash, from carrots to kale. As well as vegetables we also keep sheep, broiler chickens and two Highland cows.

Grown around the corner

We grow over 40 varieties of vegetables on the home farm in Killinchy, only six miles from our farm shop. We bring our fresh produce straight from the field to the shelf, keeping food miles down and taste at its maximum. Below is some of what we grow:

Cauliflower
Romanesco
Kohlrabi
Broccoli
Sprouting broccoli
Purple sprouting broccoli
Swede
Table turnip
Parsley
Celery
Leek
Scallions
Red scallions
Courgette
Yellow courgette
Pumpkin
Squash
Peas
Beans
Beetroot
Golden beetroot
Chard
Carrots
Coloured carrots
Parsnip
Table celery
Early potatoes
Main season potatoes
Tomatoes
Heritage tomatoes
Brussel sprouts
Pointed cabbage
Red cabbage
Savoy cabbage
White cabbage
Coleslaw cabbage
Kale
Cavolo nero

Our team of experts

Although we’re a family farm, we couldn’t grow such great food without our trusted team. Some have been with us for over 25 years, offering years of invaluable experience and skill, while fresh faces offer enthusiasm to the mix!

Our livestock

Highland cows

Meet Millbank’s most popular residents, Maggie and Lizzie – two Highland cows. Brought over from Scotland, they now call our rolling fields home.

Sheep

We keep sheep on the farm, including 200 commercial ewes and Texel, Suffolk and New Zealand Suffolk rams. Grass reared all year round, they are brought inside to lamb in March time.

Committed to sustainability

We farm the land in a sympathetic way, and take every opportunity to enhance the local biodiversity of the countryside. Some of our environmental initiatives include:

Tree planting

We've planted 14 acres of coppies, hedgerows and mixed variety hedges, offering enhanced habitats for the local flora and fauna.

Seeding wild flowers

Wild flowers offer a pollinator mix for bees, as well as creating a beautiful splash of colour for passers by to enjoy – we have planted five acres in recent years.

Keeping livestock

To create higher organic matter in our soils, we keep livestock on the farm for grazing, rotate our crops, and spread organic manure.

Installing bat boxes

We have installed bat boxes – offering habitats for the protected species in the local area.

Laying crop netting

Innovative netting is used to cover some of our crops. This covers the sprouting plants, forming a microclimate – which aids growth and deters insects without the need for unnecessary pesticides.

Orchard planting

Our plum and apple orchards provide habitats for bullfinches.

Our history

Millbank Farm has existed on the same site in Killinchy since the late nineteenth century. A lot has changed over the decades, but we have continued to produce great quality food for six generations and counting.

1889

Millbank Farm was founded on the site of a corn and sutch mill, which processed flax for the linen trade.

1930

Produce used to be taken from Killinchy to Belfast by horse and cart. 13 miles away, the farmer had to leave at 3am to get there on time!

1950

Millbank converts to dairy farming, producing milk for the next 20 years.

1960

The linen trade declines in Ireland, and the corn mill shuts for business.

1980

Millbank Farm makes the move to vegetable farming, specialising in turnips, potatoes and leeks which grew well in the local soil.

2017

Millbank Farm form a partnership with Moy Park. Two chicken houses were built to accommodate the new feathered arrivals!

2019

Millbank Farm Shop opens its doors in Saintfield in June 2019!

1889

Millbank Farm was founded on the site of a corn and sutch mill, which processed flax for the linen trade.