We collect and store rainwater in our own reservoirs so that we don’t have to use any tap water to irrigate our orchards.
We use the most advanced and efficient watering techniques to reduce water usage. Soil probes measure water content in our orchards, so that when a tree needs more water, a message is sent to our unique computer monitoring system, and water is directed to the roots of each tree for maximum efficiency.
Using less energy.
As a business, we are committed to reducing our energy usage and swapping to sustainable, renewable energy. We’re currently installing solar panels on the roofs of all our buildings to harness the power of the sun and we’re swapping traditional lighting for LED lighting wherever we can – LED lights are 80% more efficient!
In recent years, we’ve invested in overhauling our old cold storage systems. Our new cold stores use 85-90% less refrigeration gases – a big win for the environment!
We recycle all of the waste cardboard, plastic and wood that we can and we’re always looking for ways to increase this further, investing in new systems designed to recycle, reuse or sustainably dispose of waste materials.
Like all growers, we have waste apples and pears each season that don’t make the packing grade – we send these away to be used for bio-fuel, making green, renewable energy!
We work hard to encourage helpful bees and insects, including solitary bees who nest in our orchard bee hotels! We plant trees and miles of natural hedging to protect our orchards from the wind and to provide habitats for wildlife. We also leave weeds to grow where they can be useful to insects, helping to provide natural pest control. Any waste apples that drop to the orchard floor provide great sources of nutrition for the trees, insects, birds and mammals!
We use a range of technology such as satellite mapping and regular testing to make sure we only use fertilisers where they are needed, halving the amount we use in our orchards and helping to maintain the natural equilibrium of the countryside.
As long as the weather is warm enough for helpful bugs and bees, we encourage the growth of natural flowers amongst the trees in our orchards. Our flowering orchards are attractive to the human eye and to Mother Nature.
The flowers provide nectar to feed passing insects, sustaining a community that helps to preserve the natural balance for the lifespan of the orchard. Another innovation saw us establish a network of bee hotels, encouraging these busy little pollinators to thrive.