The Farmers Mart Jun/Jul 2016 - Issue 46 | Page 12

Brandy Carr Nurseries Brandy Carr Nurseries Family growers since 1870 Producers of Yorkshire Rhubarb and Yorkshire Liquorice plants. We hold the largest collection of rhubarb varieties, both culinary and ornamental, in West Yorkshire. Tel: [phone] / Mob: [phone] E: [email protected] www.brandycarrnurseries.co.uk 12 Jun/Jul 2016 www.farmers-mart.co.uk flowers for more than 200 years. You can see Emma’s influence as, in true Dutch tradition, everything is in superbly neat order. Brandy Carr nurseries continues to expand and flourish, with investment in new poly tunnels, racks, growing areas etc – there is a broad stock of bedding plants, trees, shrubs etc with more than 300 varieties in tip top condition. Another growing string to Ben’s bow is his cultivation of another Yorkshire famous delicacy, liquorice. Liquorice was originally brought by the Monks as a medicinal plant from the Crusades to Pontefract of all places where the plants can grow well in the rich loamy soil. I’m sure everyone has heard of the Pontefract Cakes. Liquorice growing died out in the 60s here but Ben had plans to change that. ANOTHER GREAT YORKSHIRE DELICACY But Ben went to see one of its foremost growers , Arthur Carter of Ferrybridge who had some plants growing wild. Ben took some away and now has some 3,500 plants under cultivation. A good plant can take five years to develop; in Turkey, however, where most liquorice now comes from, it only takes a year. Ben has now firmly re-established liquorice as an iconic Yorkshire plant. Liquorice is now appearing across Europe and Scandinavia. Even the wonderful Nigella Lawson is now championing liquorice in cooking and in chocolate! More locally than that, Rob and Heather Copley, who are successful farmers over in Pontefract , have bought plants from Ben, cultivated them and now have various liquorice products in their successful Farm Shop and regularly submit entries into the Pontefract Liquorice festival. Although Ben is not fond of the limelight he is clearly making significant contributions to the world of rhubarb and liquorice. While walking around the farm I came across a strange looking machine, and Ben explained: “Oh that’s my Rhubarb planting machine!” I found out that Ben had the basic idea in his head and just a few basic drawings. He then took these to a remarkable engineer - Bob Mercer (who is now retired) based in Lancashire and without a plan he built the machine. Ben and Bob have refined and adjusted this amazing piece of kit which can now plant 20,000 plants a day – amazing! I asked Ben and Emma about the future. They want to keep developing the nursey with more varieties, a new office is under construction and next on the agenda is a tearoom to make a visit to Brandy Carr more of an social experience along with tours of the rhubarb and the nursery. Ben is also planning to build some new rhubarb sheds to help keep pace with the ever growing demand. This is a business built on dedication, hard work and a genuine love of the way of life. Talking to Ben and Emma, what comes across is their unassuming friendliness and a genuine desire to be the best at what they do. I look forward to returning to Brandy Carr to report on their further success and development. The nursery is open from April to October – do go along and see them – it is well worth it.