Hadlow College has bought a Clemens MultiClean mulching brush to carry out mechanical husbandry tasks in its vineyard and orchard with the aim of achieving higher levels of production without using chemicals.
The college enjoyed the support of specialist machinery dealership NP Seymour in selecting the most appropriate equipment.
The MultiClean mulching brush allows the removal of shoots and the control of weeds in the undervine area without interfering with the soil structure. It has a particularly low level of vibration and has robust and smooth strings that are gentle on the vines. Different sized strings allow it to be used for various tasks.
Clemens representative Paul Tuteirihia visited Hadlow to help set up the MultiClean on one of the college’s own New Holland tractors and demonstrated the best way to use the equipment in the sustainable vineyard and orchard on the site.
He explained that Clemens helped growers find sustainable machine solutions for the year-round cultivation of row crops without the use of herbicides, with a comprehensive product range geared to a wide variety of applications.
Zoe Smith, sustainability project manager at Hadlow College, said: “We have been supported by Claire and Steve from NP Seymour, who have helped us to select the most appropriate equipment for our needs. Their expert knowledge and expertise are invaluable and I’ve been impressed with their customer service.”
Claire Seymour, director at NP Seymour, the UK’s leading fruit and vine machinery dealership, said: “We are thrilled to be supporting Hadlow College with its new orchard and vineyard ventures, ensuring that staff and students have access to the best specialist equipment on the market, such as the Clemens MultiClean and mechanical weeder.”
She continued: “Viticulture is now an integral part of the agricultural landscape, not just here in the South East but across the whole UK, and it is vital that the next generation is provided with quality educational opportunities to learn about and forge lifelong careers in this sector.”
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