#SupportLocal: Student land army helping to bring in the fruit crops

For almost 25 years, workers from Lithuania and Bulgaria have picked produce for the 15-acre Willows Farm in Hogsthorpe, which runs a 'pick your own' and farm shop on the A52 at Chapel St Leonards as well as supplying markets and shops across the region.

Back in March when lockdown began, owner David Pridgeon had to decide whether to cancel orders for plants and shelve this season - or risk going ahead as planned.

"Last year had was a challenging year with massive costs and with the uncertainty as a result of the pandemic we nearly didn't go ahead," he explained.

"We grow practically every berry you can think of and our strawberry crops are later than most, but we are starting to get busier so we are keeping our fingers crossed."

Lincolnshire produces a quarter of the country's vegetables with the local food sector employing 56,000 people.

In spite of the uncertainty, foreign workers finally arrived at Willows Farm a week ago and are currently in quarantine for 14 days at the accommodation provided for them on the farm.

It was back in March that the Government launched a WWII Land Army-style Pick for Britain campaign, asking students and laid-off hospitality workers to stop crops rotting.

The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.also appealed to students to take the opportunity to earn an income while they were not studying.

For some of the students from the Skegness area who answered the call for help, working down on the farm has been a whole new experience.

Lorna Bowser, of Skegness, had taken a year out after A-Levels before going to university, but lockdown completely changed her plans.

After a day spent picking fruit, she was working at the farm shop when we visited. "I had organised a job working for Joules at shows and a catering job in villas in Portugal, but that has all had to be cancelled," she said.

"I messaged David and he said I could help with the picking. I'm enjoying being outside and having some routine."

Alford Grammar School student Hannah Freeman would normally be working in hospitality along the coast during the summer.

"I've never done this before - my usual summer jobs have been working in a chip shop or as a barister," she said.

"When I heard about the shortages of workers on the farms I got in touch to see if they needed any help.

"I'm enjoying it but I never normally see the sun so I've been burning."

To keep staff and customers safe at the farm shop, a number of social distancing rules have been put in place.

"Those who choose the 'pick your own' are allocated a row so they have plenty of space," said David. "We are also introducing a drive-through and contactless payments for the more vulnerable customers who would prefer to stay in their cars.

"We are incredibly grateful to the local customers for supporting us. There has been a big demand for our produce as more people have been at home baking.

"Hopefully, as the caravan sites open, we will have a good season."

As trade during the morning began to pick up, one Skegness family were eager to pick some strawberries.

Mum Anna was there with her sons Philip and Patrick, who quickly filled two punnets. "We come every year and we're so pleased to see the farm shop open again," said Anna. "We've been allocated a row to pick in for the social distancing and understand they have had to do this.

"I've also told the boys they can't eat any fruit here and will have to wait until we get home and wash it. They look amazing and we can't wait to try them."