Kent’s original vineyard continues growing toward sustainability

For 55 years, Biddenden Vineyards has been driven by the passion and knowledge of the Barnes family over three generations.

Sustainability continues to be a huge topic of focus and, as the business works to develop its sustainability practices and track its journey to net zero, Biddenden Vineyards continues to look for new ways to protect and preserve our countryside, as custodians of the environment.

Biddenden says much of the business is already naturally sustainable and has been for many years, including sourcing all of its fruit locally and carrying out the full process from pressing through to bottling on site. Its state-of-the-art dual belt apple press is capable of extracting 80 per cent of the juice from the fruit, and the resulting pulp goes to an anaerobic digester, meaning that production is entirely closed loop and zero waste to landfill. For energy production, Biddenden has solar panels which generate one-third of the vineyard’s electric needs at peak.

The company is proud to have worked with Natural England as part of their initiative of restoration and creation in the Lower Weald, creating a newt pond and wildlife area at the vineyard. Working alongside FGS Pilcher, they have also given new life to an existing pond and reclaimed an area of failing woodland, creating a water meadow.

A habitat map, developed through MapMan, can be found on Biddenden’s website, which details habitat, species and conservation at the site. This tracks their growing commitment to preserving the environment in and around the vineyard.

From recyclable packaging to bug hotels, wildflower meadows and wildlife corridors, the vineyard is constantly reviewing how it can work in the most sustainable ways possible, and the business will continue to evolve as new ideas and approaches emerge within the industry.

To view the habitat map, see https://biddendenvineyards.com/visit-us/ vineyard-map/