About Me
For 35 years I worked in management for premier businesses in the UK horticulture industry. Most recently, I was Farm’s Production Director for Adrian Scripps Ltd (ASL). In late 2022 I moved to Powys, Wales and set up Holden Fruit Consultancy.
With ASL, I oversaw multiple fruit sites in Kent. I specialised in the highly technical growing of intensive top fruit, grapes & blackcurrants for a fully integrated grower/ packer business supplying multiple retailers.
During my time with ASL, I pioneered & developed the UK’s first orchard trellis system, which has gone on to become the industry standard. This led to the great honour of being awarded The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers Farm Management Award in 2015.
Specialist Experience
This includes:
- Introducing multi row orchard sprayers & self propelled harvesting rigs across ASL’s farm sites
- Becoming involved in the DEFRA / ELMS consultation phase. As one of the pilot farms in Kent, ASL implemented several environmental and sustainability programs across its farms. This included introducing wild flower corridors through the new orchards and re-wilding non-productive areas of the farms with native species
- Carrying out farm audits with LEAF and Red Tractor
- Leading large farm scale varietal, cultural and agronomy trials
- Adopting precision farming techniques
Qualifications
These include:
- Certificate in Sustainable Woodland Management - 2024
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture since 2019
- Farm Management Award, Worshipful Company of Fruiterers. 2015
- Top Fruit Panel member, AHDB. Jan 2012 - Dec 2017
- Diploma in Viticulture, Eastern Institute of Technology, New Zealand. 2010.
- FACTS Horticulture Certification, BASIS Reg. Ltd. 2010. (ID FE/4561/H)
- Certificate in Crop Protection (Commercial Horticulture), BASIS Reg Ltd. 2002 (ID E4409/ICMH)
- Diploma in Horticulture (Commercial Fruit Production), Hadlow College. 1986
- Writtle University College, National Diploma in Agriculture. 1984
The expertise you need!
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