The Farmers Mart Apr/May 2015 - Issue 39 | Page 28

Rickerby Spring Show

BOLD MOVE FOR
STEVEN PAYING OFF
»»He may be a traditional
farmer, but Steven Clarke was
prepared to make some brave
moves and go for a different
kind of diversification when he
planted 28 acres of willow.
Located in Braithwaite in
the heart of the UK’s biggest
national park, the Lake District,
Steven breeds both cattle and
sheep on his 300-acre holding,
where he also runs a milk
distribution business.
Like most farmers, Steven
had to face up to energy
issues and financial stability
amid market fluctuations. After
careful research, he invested
in a biomass boiler to supply
his farm and office with home
produced energy.
Last May, Steven took
another bold step by planting
‘short rotation coppice’ willow.
It can be a daunting decision
for farmers used to feeding
cattle, sheep and growing crops
to consider growing a new
crop and for a very different
purpose. Steven opted to sign
a long-term contract to supply
biomass to the Iggesund Mill at
Workington. An agreement with
the IGGESUND Paperboard
which provides him with
financial support to establish

the willow crop and a price for
his biomass which is indexlinked throughout the whole
contract period.
“Now I know this land will
give me a steady income for
the next 22 years,” he said.
“One of several decisive
factors was that Iggesund
assumes responsibility for both
harvesting and transporting the
crop to their Mill. All I need to
do is make sure it grows well.”
Iggesund Paperboard is
part of the Swedish forestry
group, Holmen. Since 2000,
the company has invested
more than £200m to bring
the Workington Mill up to top
international level. Its biofuel
boiler will be in operation for
decades, creating a long-term
sustainable market for energy
crops in Southern Scotland and
Northern England.
Iggesund have themselves
planted 25 acres of willow, in
fields behind the Workington
Mill, both to fuel their biopower
plant and as a demonstration
site for farmers and
landowners.
Sourcing locally-grown
willow as a potential fuel for the
biopower plant is an ongoing
task. They have been attending

28 Apr/May 2015 www.farmers-mart.co.uk

local agricultural shows to
encourage those with unutilised
land to diversify and consider
willow growing. Willow thrives
under short rotation coppice
management, is well suited
to the conditions in Scotland
and Northern England and has
been successfully cultivated
for decades in both the UK and
Scandinavia. It does not require
change of land use permission,
as it is classified in the UK as an
agricultural crop.
A willow plantation will have
a life of 22-25 years and after
the end of its productive life,
the land can be easily returned
to