Event Date

Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of Emorsgate Seeds farm, an expert in producing wild seeds for ecological restoration, agri-environment and wildlife

Website
https://www.agri-tech-e.co.uk/civicrm/event/info/?reset=1&id=27290

Emorsgate Seeds is a specialist grower of British wildflower and grass seed used for ecological restoration, landscaping, and gardening. This is a family business established in 1980 by Donald MacIntyre, and now farming wild seeds on 800 acres, they are the oldest and largest producers of wild seeds in the British Isles.

Programme

10:30 - 12:30     Emorsgate Seeds Farm Walk

The tour will begin with a discussion on the choice of species they grow, where the seeds are sourced from, and the steps taken to demonstrate the seeds are of known origin and wild in nature.

Delegates will then take a guided walk around the farm, with the chance to see some harvesting in action (weather permitting), with a discussion about biodiversity on the farm, and some of the challenges associated with growing wild plants.

Next, the tour will offer an exclusive look at the seed cleaning facilities, followed by a visit to the storage and dispatch area to see how seeds are processed and prepared for distribution.

Please note: This is an outdoor event, with most of the time spent walking around on a variety of surfaces. Sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate clothing are essential. 

About the Farm Tour Hosts

Mark Schofield, Chief Technical Advisor for Emorsgate Seeds, will be hosting this visit. He has a degree in applied biology and lifelong interest in British natural history. With a background in conservation and landscaping he joined Emorsgate Seeds over 25 years ago developing systems and procedures, designing mixtures, and giving advice to customers on the design, establishment and management of meadows and other habitats.

Mark will cover your questions about ecology, meadow management and storage whilst Marc Bullock will talk in more detail about farming, harvesting and seed cleaning.

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The Emorsgate Seeds farm visit is designed for:

  • Farmers who want to identify and manage seed mixtures for their conservation efforts
  • Advisers and practitioners who want to support their clients in habitat creation
  • Researchers who are interested in the biodiversity, genetics and ecology of species mixtures
  • Tech developers who want to support wildflower production with innovative solutions

Cost

This event is free to Agri-TechE members. Please note: places are limited and will be on a first come first served basis with a maximum of two attendees from each organisation. Agri-TechE members need to login or register for an account to access free ticket

Event price for non-members is £35 (ex. VAT). Learn more about the benefits of Agri-TechE membership.

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Agri-TechE

Agri-TechE is a not-for-profit, independent membership organisation dedicated to advancing agricultural innovation and sustainability. We take pride in our decade-long commitment to transforming the agricultural landscape through cutting-edge research and technology.

Rewilding

Rewilding is an approach to restoring biodiversity and ecosystem health by working towards returning habitats back to their natural state. Rewilding is commonly misrepresented as the reintroduction of large and glamorous wild animals and the removal of people and human activity from the landscape, but this is very rarely the case.  

Farmer led innovation

Many of the most telling innovations that make a difference on-farm come from farmers themselves, or from close collaboration between farmers, advisors, industry and researchers

Biodiversity

Biodiversity encompasses all the variety of life on Earth from genes to species, populations, communities and ecosystems. In ecological and environmental sectors, we mostly refer to the biodiversity of plant and animal communities within particular habitats.