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Since the move ‘back up north’
Well Pict European Scotland has
moved on from being a concept to something new, exciting and
very tangible. Aurel Voiculescu, Director for Well Pict
European Scotland added, “The first few months seemed to be a
bit slow, trying to cover of everything we needed, plants,
machinery, irrigation,
polytunnels, office, packhouse and
accommodation and getting them organised and ordered - believe
me it’s quite a list!”.
Aurel has teamed up with Andrew Cranston who is also a
director of the company says it’s not just the big things that
cause problems, “It’s the little bits and pieces, the odd bit
of two by two or the old length of irriation pipe that could
be used to mark out the field, finding that you don’t have
that take up the time”.
Having visited Hiller Farms back in the Autumn to look at
their High Bed Former and
Poly-layer we soon got our order in
and luckily got the chance between the frost and rain to get
our first 3.5ha of beds up. We were very impressed with both
machines getting the bed up to a height of 16inches, with the
added rooting zone, increased picking speeds and less straw
needed, Cranston is sure they are onto a winner. After an hour
or two of setting up the
Poly-layer the team had laid 22000
linear metres in no time at all. The planting of Elsanta heavy
waiting bed has now been completed and
tunnels are on the way
up.
Finding a suitable packhouse with the potential to become a
central hub and distribution centre for local deliveries was a
time consuming operation, visiting numerous locations within
the Angus region, eventually a site was purchased on an
industrial estate in Arbroath, situated only a few miles from
their student camp and production sites it was the ideal
solution.
Both Cranston and Voiculescu agree that none of the work would
have been possible without the help of the
Well Pict European
teams in Evesham and Devon, as Voiculescu says, “it’s an old
adage but the people and their attitudes within the business
are the key to its success. Building the right team in
Scotland and surrounding yourself with like minded people who
are up for the challenge is paramount”.
Both Cranston and Voiculescu agree that Frank Geddes and his
son John of the Geddes group have been a huge help to getting
the operation up and moving forward over the last 6 months,
“their kind help and time is greatly appreciated”. Frank whose
family farm around 3500 acres amazingly still find the time to
build motorways, reservoirs, golf courses and manage half a
dozen quarries.
Over the next few months Yanko and his team will be preparing
another 40 acres of production as well as getting the
packhouse up and running.
Well Pict European Scotland will be focusing strongly on
locally delivered produce, anyone who is interested in this
scheme (for any product - fruit or vegetables) and wishes to
find out more should contact Andrew Cranston (07814 704594).
Polytunnels supplied by
Crop PRO-TECH Ltd
the UK leading supplier of
Spanish Tunnels,
Polytunnels,
Greenhouses,
Bed formers,
Poly-layers,
Poly winder,
Horticultural Machinery,
Table
Tops,
Growing
Systems,
Agricultural nettings,
Agricultural Polythene.
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Integrating
with the local community: barbeque organised by the local church and Well
Pict Scotland
