James Ellson

I manage a smallholding of 2.5 acres in Hayfield, Derbyshire. There is a large veg garden, an orchard, and a fruit cage. We have solar panels, a wood pellet boiler and spring water.

We are almost self-sufficient in growing fruit and vegetables. We also have chickens and bees, and rear turkeys at Christmas! We try to do things sustainably, and use limited mechanical power, and no pesticides. Currently, we are experimenting with more perennial vegetable crops, trying to move away from sowing and planting every year.

My passion is fruit trees, especially apples. I have developed an orchard of over 50 varieties of apples, pears and plums, and I am aiming for 100. I graft all my own trees, and this year I experimented with apple crossing (trying to create a new variety). I am in the Northern Fruit Group.

We have kept bees for six years. We keep dual-purpose chickens, and regularly hatch new broods of chicks.

I offer a variety of tours, courses and lectures.

Tours include a general Smallholding Tour, a Fruit Tree Tour, and a Green Tour. Courses include An Introduction to Apples, Whip ‘n’ Tongue Grafting, Crossing and Winter Pruning. Details of these can be found on AirBnb experiences.