The sandy, deep warm soil in Nottinghamshire offers the perfect growing conditions for vitamin rich carrots. With four generations of farmers, Bill and his family are no strangers to British farming and have farmed in and around Arnold since 1900, when Bill’s grandfather, Thomas Hammond began growing carrots on 12 acres of land.
Growing carrots at New Farm throughout the year, alongside other popular vegetables the Hammond family are kept busy. Competing with the unpredictable British weather and working to meet demand, the crops are planted over a 6 month period. The first, planted in early December, is covered in polythene sheets to create a micro-climate in which the carrots thrive; further crops are seeded from January until the end of May. This first crop can then be harvested in June. Bill explains, “as carrots do not withstand frost, we cover the crops with straw during the winter months to protect them from the weather. They’re kept in the soil right the way through the year and harvested daily to ensure they are bright, firm, fresh and full of colour.”
It is no surprise to hear that even at 70 years old, Bill still starts at 7am. Although he leaves the day-to-day running of the farm to his two sons, Bill remains integral to the farm’s operations. As head of environment and welfare for the farm, Bill is incredibly passionate about conservation, following in the footsteps of his own father who was a keen conservationist.
“We are keepers of the countryside and it is vital that we try to improve our environment while we still can. This is something very close to my heart and a huge part of my life, I feel very passionate about it. We have over 30 acres dedicated to wildlife. This includes pollen and nectar areas that encourage bees and small birds; maize, millet and sunflower plantations to provide winter feed for wild birds; and an abundance of flowering plants and grasses in the wild flower meadows. We have been restoring, creating and cultivating hedgerows, field boundaries, woodland and wetland areas to provide valuable habitat and nesting areas for many endangered birds from tree sparrows to linnets and skylarks to yellow hammers”.
Irrigation in each field has been carefully thought out, minimising the water needed to nurture the crops. “To avoid wasting water we use boom irrigation particularly on young and delicate crops. Their precision and fine spray reduces waste water and covers the crops entirely, without causing any damage to the vegetables or the soil structure.”
Concerned about their effects on the environment, Bill works alongside Leaf Marque and the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group to ensure their impact on the environment is kept to a minimum. One major innovation is the introduction on the farm of vehicles powered by pure plant oil (PPO), reducing their carbon output by 60% on converted vehicles. The innovative fuel confirms their dedication to the future and sets New Farm apart with their progressive approach to farming.
Recently, the farm has increased its involvement with local schools, arranging educational trips so children can learn the importance of British farming, exactly where their vegetables come from and the role farming – and they – can play in safeguarding their future.
Clearly passionate about British farming, Bill is almost equally as passionate about carrots. “Carrots are great! Cooked or raw, they are sweet, flavoursome, colourful and incredibly versatile; they are packed with vitamins and are a valuable part of your 5-a-day.”
To achieve the best quality and availability of produce, we may sometimes need to source produce from growers other than those mentioned. In the event of British produce not being available or not meeting the required specification, we will source from an alternative origin to match our high quality standards.
