The New Forest Fruit Company was established in 2008 and is located in the New Forest National Park in Hampshire. The focus is on producing high quality fruits over a long season from March to December.
Farmer: Sandy Booth
Address: Newhouse Farm, Church Lane, East Boldre, Hampshire, SO42 7WS
Website: www.newforestfruit.com
The New Forest Fruit Company was established in 2008 and is located in the New Forest National Park in Hampshire. The focus is on producing high quality fruits over a long season from March to December.
The Farm
Located in the historical New Forest National park, Hampshire the company produces strawberries and a new crop, blue honeysuckle berries. Following LEAF’s Integrated Farm Management principles, high quality fruit is grown with care for the environment including measures such as solar energy production and rainwater collection.
Crops for food
Strawberries are the main crop produced with different varieties coming from California, Italy, Holland, France and Spain.
As well as the Strawberry production, the introduction of blue honeysuckle berries which are grown to make jams and chutneys introduces elements of fruit diversification. The location of the farm enables the crops to have a long growing season, from the beginning of March until the middle of December. Glasshouses are used for the first and last months of the growing season, whereas polytunnels are used for the main period. This crop protection provides better continuity of supply during inclement weather.
Conservation
Ecological sustainability through Integrated Farm Management is at the core of New Forest Fruit with several methods implemented to minimise the effects of production on the environment. Strawberries are grown in a Coir substrate (the material that surrounds a coconut shell) which is renewable and ecologically sound and all rainwater is collected and reused on the site. Wildlife and biodiversity are continually monitored on farm and measures are taken across the site to enhance habitats. Wild bird populations are thriving in numbers and species diversity around the farm.
Visits
We are very pleased to be a LEAF Demonstration Farm and welcome visitors by appointment through the LEAF website to see how a commercial fruit farm can balance the requirements of the market with long term environmental sustainability.
Visit this farm
Click here to arrange a visit to this LEAF Demonstration Farm.
