Growers invited to join important new sustainability project

A new project that could have important outcomes for cider apple growers and cider makers right across the UK is being launched at Holme Lacy on March 17. 

The Herefordshire Orchards Network of Excellence, or HONE for short, aims to build a network of growers and cider makers who are committed to the future of cider apple growing in Herefordshire and can develop strategies to meet the many challenges facing them - and their colleagues across the country - in the future. 

And whilst it is a Herefordshire-based project, the organisers are happy to include growers in the surrounding area and hope that all growers and cider makers can access the information and results of the project as they emerge. 

Said HONE project manager, Emily Durrant, who works for the Bulmer Foundation: ‘In essence we aim to discover and develop techniques for profitable, environmentally sensitive cider apple production, with a reduced need for energy inputs and which respect the social, historical and ecological need for orchards. 

‘A major component of the work will involve creating and facilitating an active network of growers in order to run a series of grower-based trials in sustainable orchard management.’ 

Emily said that the pressures on growers were intensifying all the time; climate change, restrictions on chemical use and the price of oil to name just three very important cost factors in cider apple production which go on to impact cider makers as well. 

At the same time all government research stations with an apple division in the UK are now closed and only private research companies remain, so research is costly. 

Said Emily: ‘Thankfully, the NACM funds a small amount of research each year – without which the situation would be much worse - and some cider-makers are now funding large research projects that are producing interesting new ideas, but all of these ideas need to be tested on real farms, with real growers, which is where this project comes in.’

She said the detail of how the project develops will be largely up to the growers but will definitely involve issues such as 

•         Getting growers together and agreeing on a future for orchards 

•         Generating new ideas and remembering old ones 

•         Running and funding a series of orchard trials 

•         Linking with communities around orchards to communicate the role cider and orchards play 

•         A series of workshops and seminars on trial topics and other sustainability topics of interest 

•         Active dissemination of news and results 

•         Active promotion of the network 

Said Emily: ‘I am personally very motivated to make this project work. I have a deep and lasting commitment to local sustainable development and the environment; working with growers means working with families, communities and the land - and that's what counts. 

‘I believe that helping to secure a long term future for cider and perry orchards will also help us to secure our Herefordshire cider makers, associated employment and the unique heritage landscape which they represent.’ 

The event will be held in the Orchard Block at the Holme Lacy campus of Herefordshire College of Technology, Holme Lacy, Hereford. HR2 6LL
 on March 17 from 6pm to 9pm and will be officially opened by Councillor (and grower) Adrian Blackshaw
 
Those who wish to attend are advised to contact Emily promptly as spaces are limited. Emily can be reached on mobile number 07768950249 or email .
 

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