Hyrneside in Newburgh has embraced the concept of incorporating trees into their farming plan for two reasons – The Environment and Farm Diversification. Roger and Rachel Howison took on the family farm 10 years ago and wanted to diversify in a way that was at once good for the environment, their business and which fit in with their farm’s local history.
By planting hundreds of apple trees, alongside the farm’s traditional arable crops and livestock business (which requires no additional investment in new equipment and doesn’t have to deal with the challenges a traditional orchard), they have essentially replaced the 7% yield they sacrificed of the barley crop with a whole new revenue stream for the farm, to great effect.
Roger explains the sense of responsibility he feels in looking to ensure that the practices he employs in farming are not detrimental to the environment. Trees were front and centre in looking to help the environment and ultimately connected him to The Woodland Trust who were able to assist in the grant application process although, this wasn’t a matter of just planting a new piece of woodland. No, this was a wee bit more radical, and certainly not straightforward requiring some inventiveness.
Combining fruit production along with his traditional barley crop means that the space in the air, above the ground is also now being productive. The spacing of the trees in single file or alleycropping, supports his existing harvesting equipment allowing the air to circulate around the trees blowing off bugs that could damage the apple crop. Having to plant the rows of trees north to south to maximise the sunlight across the fruit flew in the face of how these arable fields would be traditionally worked in reference to the contours of the ground. However, the end result is a product Roger is rightly proud of. In fact, so successful has the Aipple Cider proved, he realises that he needs more apples.
But why choose apples? Roger and Rachel say that one was easy – Heritage. They are reinvesting in the story of Newburgh which has a long standing history of apple production dating back 830 years beginning with French monks in 1191, through which it became known as an Orchard Town. The striking yet simple branding of the cider and even its name; Aipple being the Scots word for apple are homage to this humble horticultural history.
Currently Roger and Rachel have partnered with nearby producers for the cider processing but becoming as self-sufficient as they can is a goal. They are already undertaking remarkably successful root grafting which will allow him to expand and replace his own tree stock, although with an average 40 year yield these apple trees are a long term strategy. Roger is looking at practices which will further aid his environmental aspirations which fundamentally means minimising the use of any chemicals on the farm. It's an exciting start for the new business.