Couple plant trees on land roamed by hens

A couple whose sound environmental values drive their free range egg business are planting an orchard of apple trees on the land roamed by their hens to take advantage of a process known as symbiosis.

Tony and Gwen Burgess, of Birchgrove Free Range Eggs, whose every business decision is determined by its impact on the environment and local community, will plant up to 50 apple trees on land made fertile by their hens.

The trees will benefit from the hens roaming in the orchard, says Tony. "The flock can provide nutrients to help the trees grow, it’s what’s known as symbiosis, when one species is beneficial to the survival of another,’’ he explains.

There will be several varieties, including a Welsh cider apple tree, and their fruits will either be sold or used to produce cider.

The Burgesses, finalists in this year’s True Taste of Wales Awards, run a flock of 3,000 hens on their farm near Aberystwyth and also buy eggs from their producers on five small, family-run businesses to supply their market in Wales.


Their business has blossomed with sustainability at the forefront. The impact their business has on the environment, community and culture is important to Tony and Gwen. "We can produce eggs to a high welfare standard, pay our suppliers a good price, not have a detrimental impact on the environment and be profitable too,’’ says Gwen. "We wouldn’t want to adopt any practice that would affect future generations in a detrimental way.’’

The carbon footprint of the business has been measured and Tony and Gwen know exactly how much carbon is used to produce a dozen of their eggs. They already have measures in place to reduce it, including changes to their transport arrangements.

One of their biggest customers, the Spar group, will collect eggs on the lorries they use for deliveries. "The lorries pass here six days a week so it’s sensible for them to back-haul,’’ says Tony.

And through a project being undertaken at the Institute of Biological and Environmental Research (IBERS) to develop a new poultry feed, Birchgrove also hopes to become less reliant on global wheat market.

The principle behind Tony and Gwen’s decision to run the business as they do is simple. "It makes us feel good,’’ admits Tony. "It has been our dream to get to the point where we now find ourselves. We are delighted to have had support from Cywain to thorough investigate the sustainability of our business.’’