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English Walnut farming in the UK

English farmers are growing more and more nuts, as the climate warms, and makes it more economically viable. Nut trees have many benefits, since their roots help to improve the soil’s ability to retain water, reducing the risk of wind erosion.

How did walnut farming start in England

Guy Singh-Watson, the founder of organic vegetable box company Riverford, started growing hazelnut and walnut trees on his 150-acre Devon farm to ease the guilt of ploughing his fields for vegetables.

He explained that vegetables grown annually involve heavy farming of the soil, and that he had grown increasingly uncomfortable with this in recent years. When 10,000 tonnes of soil were lost in a single 10-minute period, it made him feel ashamed. Thus he decided to test out nuts as a viable crop.

To Singh-Watson’s delight, growing nuts was found to be easy, as he stated, “You don't have to do anything, I spent 40 years trying to coax vegetables into life, and they just die all the time, but hazels grow so well. There doesn't seem to be any problem growing walnuts in our climate.”

His hazel and walnut trees had the added benefit of being able to graze cattle safely, and he was considering expanding his crop by planting kale.

Is walnut farming a success in the UK

This is good news for UK farmers, as the climate has been heating up. Last year was the hottest on record, with a prolonged dry summer leading to crop failures.

Nut trees, on the other hand, are capable of surviving in hot and dry weather, especially when first planted.

Tom Tame, from Warwickshire, has been growing walnuts for 30 years, and notes that the warmer climate is benefiting his crops. Walnuts can grow in cooler conditions too, but the warmer temperatures are leading to greater yields.

Tame stated, “Walnuts will happily grow in colder conditions but farther north you are going to get less of a crop. In this country, we’re on the cusp of what works commercially.”

He continued, “One variety, Chandler, reportedly prefers to be about 25C on average. We hit 24.8C on average last summer, so we’re finally getting into that territory.”

How are English walnuts consumed?

Cobnuts, a type of hazelnut, are produced in Kent, and are traditionally consumed fresh instead of dried. Cobnuts are also in-demand with consumers.

Overall, the hot and dry climate in England is having a beneficial effect on the growing of nuts, and it looks like farmers have found a way to make a profit from them.