R&S Pride JUNE 227.qxp 12/05/2021 13:37 Page 64
IT’S A BRIGHT, FRESH MORNING. Late spring, with summer just around the corner. There’s a bit of mist, but it’ll burn off with the sun. Susannah Ivens is inspecting (well, admiring) the strawberry crop, just before enthusiastic locals descend to pick a berry or two (or more) to smother in cream, turn into jam or enjoy with a simple sprinkle of sugar.
“We look forward to it every year,” says Susannah. “It’s hard work, but really enjoyable. How could you not enjoy being on a strawberry farm, surrounded by excited children in the middle of an English summer?” Susannah and husband Paddy took over the site from Paddy’s father and mother John and Jill Ivens.
The best strawberry fields in our area... Pick one of these great places to pick your own, then enjoy a summer treat! n Hill Farm Pick Your Own, Oundle Road, Peterborough, PE7 3UA, 01733 233270: Hill Farm is a family run business open from June-October offering ‘pick-your-own’ (PYO) and ‘ready picked’ soft fruit and vegetables – ideal for freezing, jam and wine making, or just eating fresh. Set in attractive rural surroundings, on a hill overlooking Peterborough. n Rutland Water Fruit Farm, Edith Weston, Oakham LE15 8HB, 07875 479533: A local soft fruit farm selling premium strawberries and raspberries grown on the farm. Warm welcome, friendly service, a great little farm shop plus views over Rutland Water! n Seldom Seen Farm, Green Lane, Billesdon, Leicestershire LE7 9FA, 0116 259 6742: Robert and Claire Symington have been farming Seldom Seen Farm in the beautiful Leicestershire countryside for over 40 years, poultry is their main product, but their strawberries are stunning too!
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The farm spans more than 250 acres, with much of the land given over to field beans and wheat. However, there is also 40km worth of rows dedicated to strawberries, of which 30km are pickable from this month. The remaining 10km are newly planted (maidens) and will not be pickable until 2022. “Strawberry plants have a three-year lifespan,” says Susannah. ‘’So, every year we remove a patch as well as planting a patch. Our strawberries cover about four hectares, with a further 2.5 hectares for raspberries.” “We grow about eight different varieties of strawberries – such as Christine, Florence and Malwina – which are an example of our early, mid and late season varieties, extending the eight-week season as long as possible without sacrificing quality.” “We don’t grow in polytunnels, preferring to get the flavour and goodness from our soil. Unfortunately, we’re on a slope and have horrible heavy clay soil in places, so the conditions don’t make it easy for us, but the strawberries taste awesome!”
