Although the earlier years saw
Rolawn laying turf for Wimbledon, it felt sports market was too niche and the company duly focused its efforts on developing other sectors such as domestic and landscaping, but it rarely exports.
“Soil type was the main reason we
relocated from Aberdeen. The Vale of York is fairly sheltered and is positioned midway between Edinburgh and London and is pretty well situated for the A1, M1 and the M62.” Rolawn buys its seed from producers such as British Seed Houses, DLF and Barenbrug, cultivating its turf purely from the York base. “We believe we can deliver a more consistent product because the turf is grown in one soil type and in one climate, giving us greater efficiency of growing, maintaining and harvesting.” “It’s the economies of scale, We can use big machinery, such as the 46ft wide mowers we developed for the purpose, each of which can cover 150 acres a day.” Rolawn work closely with the STRI, another organisation based on the east of the Pennines, researching seed types and growing regimes, while recently issuing an independent report from the Institute on the quality of its turf. Meanwhile, other trials have demonstrated how to complete installations faster by using bespoke rollout machinery, again developed in- house. Perhaps inevitably, supply of specialist topsoil accounts forms a significant slice of the business. “We started six or seven years ago and we now supply an extensive range of topsoils for the professional and domestic markets,” Paul notes. Although British Seed Houses location on the eastern side of England is, to quote amenity director Simon Taylor, “at the centre of the universe”, he does concede that, until recently, south Lincolnshire was “a bit of a lost county” before dualling of the A46
changed its accessibility in dramatic fashion.
“Quite a few seed producers are located this side," he says, referring to the likes of Advanta and DLF. “Traditionally, the east is associated with seed production, probably because of the arable connection and the cereal production base.”
Seven years ago, the BSH amenity division moved from Warrington to the existing production plant in Witham St Hughs, Lincoln. The amenity side deals direct with the end user; the agricultural/merchant business selling to the farmer. More than twenty years in amenity, BSH has seen a level of consistency in the marketplace in that time, although all seed producers have undergone some degree of rationalisation, says Simon.
“Our business is split 50/50 between amenity and agriculture and the end user has never had it so good in terms of choice, with plenty of good quality grasses available. But things are always changing so we need to be one step ahead, considering issues such as lower inputs to seed production - less spraying, fertiliser costs and the environment.” “Grass as a crop is part of the arable
rotation and is viable to grow as a feed source and as a break crop. In terms of carbon footprint, it makes sense to grow seed as near to base as possible, so we look for growers in our vicinity.” The Lincolnshire plant gives BSH
room to expand, continues Simon, who then considers the good sense of the move from the North-west. “From the practical side, the soils here are lighter and more free-draining and the open, flat fields allow seed to be produced more readily. It can be chilly on this side though.” Leading seed producer Barenbrug UK also has a long association with East Anglia, as managing director Paul Johnson confirms. “Barenbrug UK was established when
our Dutch parent company bought a Bury St Edmunds seed company called Goldsmiths over twenty-five years ago. The company was based at Rougham Industrial Estate, where our head office continues to operate from, though things have moved on somewhat since the beginnings of the business.” “We quickly outgrew Goldsmiths small warehouse and portacabins, and now occupy a fully operational office complex and automated warehouse production unit that stores more than 2,500 tonnes of certified clean seed.” “But we saw no reason to move from this eastern location as it is ideal for our business - it allows us to operate a purpose-built facility run by experienced staff and has also provided us with room for expansion, which is not always so easy in other parts of the country.”
The facility provides an efficient distribution line with three grass plant mixers and five packing lines to successfully meet the increasing demand for Barenbrug products. “Bury St Edmunds communication links are good too, plus the majority of our growers are eastern-based. UK production now exceeds 2,000 hectares, so it is an important part of the company’s operation.” “Field inspections and haulage can also be efficiently conducted from here”, he says. “Being part of an international business, good local airports such as Stansted and Norwich are also a bonus. And the new outer harbour development at Great Yarmouth, when it’s completed in 2009, will be very useful in bringing seed in from Holland and Denmark.” “We’re very happy here in Bury and have no plans to change,” he confirms, adding that the Suffolk facilities are complemented by a 12,000sq ft Falkirk facility. This provides an effective local operation around Scotland and the borders, holding up to 520 tonnes of grass seed and a three tonne capacity blender.
“The end user has never had it so good in terms of choice, with plenty of good quality grasses available”
Simon Taylor, British Seed Houses
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