Waitrose offers home delivery to vulnerable locals from Leckford Estate

• The free delivery service is available to vulnerable, elderly and self-isolating residents

• Leckford Estate has temporarily closed its café and nursery and redeployed staff to its production units and shop

• The Waitrose Farm has also made a donation of fresh food to Winchester-based charity Trinity

Waitrose is offering local residents near to its Leckford Estate, where it sources a number of premium own-label products, a free delivery service from the farm shop during the coronavirus crisis.

The service will be providing food to those in self-isolation, as well as vulnerable and elderly residents, in the villages of Longstock and Leckford.

The farm shop stocks store cupboard essentials and fresh food including fruit, milk and mushrooms produced on the farm, as well as toiletries, beers, wines & spirits and cakes & biscuits.

“The way the partners across the estate have pulled together to support the community has been so inspiring,” said Andrew Hoad, head of Leckford Estate. “With parts of our services closing, we have looked at other ways our partners can use their skills and time to help our community in its time of need, and this delivery service was the perfect option.”

Farm shop manager Libby Hayes added: “We’re doing doorstep deliveries of everything from fruit and vegetables to bread, milk and eggs as well as other treat items.

“Our customers are so pleased. Some people aren’t able to get to the shops as normal and they’re just thrilled that we’re able to offer them this service with a team of familiar faces – at a safe distance of course.”

The Waitrose Farm has also made a donation of fresh food to Trinity, a Winchester-based charity supporting homeless and vulnerable people. Trinity has been delivering more than 75 meals a day to partner housing providers, hostels and night shelters in Winchester, alongside telephone support for those in need.

Leckford Estate has temporarily closed its café and nursery, in accordance with guidance from the government. Staff who worked in these areas have been redeployed across the estate to support the farm’s food production units and in its farm shop.