Allensmore and the Environment.
Surrounded as we are by the fabulous Herefordshire countryside, we are acutely aware of the importance of the environment.
We strive to produce top quality plants for our customers whilst having the minimum detrimental effect on the environment.
We have a strong track record of implementing environmental initiatives over many years.
The BOPP/GlobalGAP accreditation scheme to which we have belonged since the mid-nineties has policies for environmental issues at its heart including correct storage and use of pesticides, water use, energy consumption and so on. Please visit www.bopp.org.uk for more information.
Pesticides
We abide by a very strict code of practice with regard to pesticides. We have been at the forefront of using integrated pest management (IPM) in ornamentals since the late eighties. This includes regular introductions of beneficial parasitic and predatory insects, mites and nematodes to combat pests such as whitefly, thrips, slugs, sciarid fly, leaf miner and aphids. We endeavour to use insecticides only as a last resort.
We use cultural methods wherever possible to reduce our reliance on fungicides. Recently we have invested in a rig to produce 'Compost Tea' which we are using on many of our winter crops, the aim being to eliminate the use of chemicals for Botryitis and Leaf Spots. “Compost Tea” is derived from naturally occurring beneficial micro-organisms which are “brewed” in oxygen-enriched water before being sprayed over the crops.
Water use
We have our own licensed deep borehole which provides most of our irrigation water at our main site. This is augmented by water collected from the roofs of some of our greenhouses.
At our new outdoor site we collect the runoff from our growing areas in a purpose built reservoir. This enables us to be self sufficient in water at that site. It also eliminates fertiliser run-off.
We are using high tech capillary matting on our most recent development. This matting not only allows very efficient water distribution to the plants but also encourages beneficial micro-flora to thrive at the root zone helping to suppress important root pathogens such as Pythium.
Our latest overhead irrigation systems use some of the best sprinkler technology available to deliver uniformity of application and hence minimise waste.
Energy
This is another area where Allensmore have been leaders. 25 years ago when most growers were just talking about thermal screens we had installed them throughout our nursery saving 30% of our heating requirement. We have double glazed perimeter walls and computer controlled environments in our key heated glasshouses. Our packhouse is insulated throughout and has modern low energy high efficiency lighting.
We have moved away from growing long term heated winter crops such as Azaleas and Poinsettias and replaced these with cool crops such as hardy cyclamen.
Transport
We have an up to date fleet of insulated, fuel efficient trucks. These are all routed using the most sophisticated routing software available so that all of our deliveries are made in the most efficient way possible.
Recycling
This is another area where we are proud of our record. We use pots and trays made of mainly recycled plastic. All of them can be recycled. All of our waste cardboard, paper, metal, glass and nearly all of our waste plastic is recycled. All of our green waste is segregated to be composted down and used as a soil improver and conditioner on nearby farmland.
Peat
We are fully aware of all of the issues of the peat debate including the need to preserve the remaining raised mire habitat and the re-flooding of bogs after peat extraction has taken place. We would point out that the power stations in Ireland burning peat use more peat in a year than is used by the whole of British Commercial Ornamental Horticulture in 20 years.
That said we are amongst the leading growers in the country in the field of peat reduction in our bespoke substrates. All of our mixes contain a minimum of 40% non peat components and many have an even higher proportion than this. We have carried out trials with many of the various peat alternatives including some peat free mixes. Whilst we have grown some of our best plants ever in peat free mixes we have also had some disasters because of the inconsistency of supply. It will be a long time before we can eliminate peat completely from our substrates because of the lack of consistency and availability of alternatives.
Packaging
We use only very small amounts of packaging. All of our deliveries are made on Danish trolleys that are shrink wrapped only if necessary using a very efficient automatic machine. Other packaging is kept to an absolute minimum, but clearly we need to ensure that the plants reach their destination in good condition.
…..And Finally apart from the fact that plants enhance our environment aesthetically it is worth remembering that every plant is in itself a clever little machine, mopping up carbon dioxide and enriching the air with oxygen.
Operation LEAN - Case Study by the HTA NEWS
Operation LEAN - Case Study by the HTA NEWS
Allensmore Nurseries decided to apply Lean after an HTA Conference — with some surprising results…
In these times of escalating costs the ‘Lean’ approach has never been more important. Family run, Allensmore Nurseries near Hereford, has been working to adopt lean since February this year and just five months into the project has held a Lean day to update all staff on the progress that has been made so far.
Mark Taylor, Managing Director of Allensmore along with his father, Brian, who is now Chairman, says, “After first hearing about Lean at an HTA Conference last year we were encouraged to find out more — particularly in the light of our rising labour costs. Initially, we carried out a four-day Lean workshop in our dispatch area, but it quickly became evident that to be effective the same approach needed to be taken by all our other areas of operation. Allensmore IT Manager David Powell took on the role of Lean champion for the nursery helping to facilitate change within each department.”
As a result, over the last five months Allensmore has applied Lean to all the sectors of the nursery: production, potting, added value, dispatch and transport/ loading — and the changes have already had a dramatic impact. From the outset a Lean progress day was planned to give staff a milestone for initial actions to take place by — with the team having made most progress to be awarded an expenses-paid night out.
The production team has focused the improvements on ensuring that paths between the beds were laid down so as to enable efficient and safe access during the picking process. White boards have been placed in each area to encourage communication between departments on what issues have been identified. The team will then regularly meet to establish a permanent solution to the identified problem.
In the potting area there has been a total reorganisation of the work space that has allowed for a much more efficient way of working. The introduction of a shadow board has been a major step forward — providing workers with daily targets and advance notice of their tasks for the next day. These changes alone are already showing an impact in terms of production and this team won the most improved accolade.
The ‘added value’ department has also increased production through streamlining its work practices and spreading the workload more evenly throughout the day. Suggestions by the student workforce have enabled a much clearer labelling system to be used and the ruthless reorganisation of stock has enabled the department to sell a further £150k worth this season alone.
The dispatch area has seen major changes too, and the flow of orders through the area has subsequently improved. Once again a shadow board provides an overview of operations enabling staff to clearly see the tasks to be carried out. Tighter stock control has been introduced into the label store and performance measures, such as number of trolleys per hour, have been introduced in order to track progress over time.
One department which has not only implemented its own Lean measures but has also benefitted greatly from improvements made by other areas of the business, is transport and loading. The most notable point being that it has been able to finish loading earlier in the evening as a direct result. Savings have been made through the purchase, rather than rental, of vehicles which is allowing for further investment in routing software.
Mark Taylor comments: “Many of the actions that have been taken as a result of Lean have led to a direct improvement on production. Also, Lean has had a great impact on company communications because it is vital that departments work together towards achieving a common goal. Many of the simple actions have had the most impact – for example, the colour coding of tools and equipment and the introduction of shadow boards.”
Neil Fedden, HTA’s Lean Consultant says: “I am really impressed by the way that the staff at Allensmore have embraced Lean. There has been a real enthusiasm and commitment to make changes and now that they are beginning to see results I am in no doubt that this will spur them on more.’
Allensmore Nurseries Lean Champion, David Powell, has been attending the HTA’s five-day Lean Bootcamp at Hillier Garden Centre’s Head Office on the 12/13 August and 2/3/4 September. The aim of this is to give David the skills required to run his own improvement workshops within Allensmore.
The next planned workshop is to implement Lean within the offices and look at eliminating ‘information waste’. It is hoped that this will reduce the amount of paperwork and help to get the orders out to operations in as short a lead-time as possible. Another Lean progress day is planned for January 2009 which will be a repeat of the July event. Neil Fedden comments: “Based on the progress the teams have made in the first five months, I cannot wait to see where they will be on the Lean Journey in another six months!”
Find out more For further information about Lean and the various workshops that are available contact Neil Fedden, HTA Lean Consultant. Tel: 0118 9303132 Email: neil.fedden@the-hta.org.uk