Directory
Tom Amery
Chairman
Tom Amery is Managing Director & Partner of The Watercress Company, the UK’s largest grower of watercress with specialist beds in Alresford, Cranborne and Dorchester, and Jerez in Spain. Tom loves developing the team and specifically new talent, discovering new innovative research into watercress health, and adapting growing practices with the team to overcome challenges and embrace opportunities.
Address: Waddock Cross, Dorchester, DT2 8QY
E-mail: tom.amery@thewatercresscompany.com
Phone: 07795 343177 / 01929 408269
Website: www.thewatercresscompany.com
Lynne Ronaldson
Secretary
Business Administrator at TWC.
Address: Waddock Cross, Dorchester, DT2 8QY
E-mail: lynne.ronaldson@thewatercresscompany.com
Phone: 01929 408262
Website: www.thewatercresscompany.com
Will Allam
Vice-Chairman
Alre Watercress is a family-run business with nearly a century of heritage in the industry, producing traditionally grown watercress throughout the year. Crops are carefully hand-harvested without the use of machinery, pesticides or sprays, ensuring exceptional quality and freshness. Supplying pubs, restaurants, farm shops and greengrocers across the local area.
Address: Alre Watercress, 3 Wood Lark Cottages,
Bighton, Alresford, SO24 9RE
E-mail: willallam@hotmail.com
Phone: 01962 735608
Website: www.facebook.com/people/Alre-Watercress/100057095574514/
Simon Hurd
Treasurer
John Hurd’s Organic Watercress is a family-run business producing high-quality organic watercress in the heart of the West Country. John Hurd and his family have been cultivating watercress for over forty years, making the commitment to go fully organic in 1992. Their long-standing experience and traditional approach ensure exceptional quality and freshness year-round.
Address: Hill Deverill, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7EF
E-mail: simon@organicwatercress.co.uk
Phone: 01985 840 260
Website: www.organicwatercress.co.uk
Keith Hitchings
Ordinary
Chalke Valley Watercress is a sixth-generation family business growing traditional dark green watercress on the natural springs of the Chalke Valley. Established in 1880, the business supplies fresh watercress daily to wholesale markets, hotels, restaurants and local shops nationwide. Located in Broad Chalke, ten miles west of Salisbury, the farm sits within one of the most picturesque villages of the beautiful Chalke Valley.
Address: The Old Chapel, Bishopstone, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 4BT
E-mail: keithhitchings@gmx.co.uk
Phone: 01722 780142
Website: www.chalkevalleywatercress.co.uk
Barry Arminson
Ordinary
Kingfisher Farm Shop is a family-run business based in Abinger Hammer, Surrey, selling its own watercress alongside a carefully selected range of fresh, local food and flowers. Their watercress has been grown since 1854, in natural running spring water, without the use of fertilisers or insecticides. Watercress is grown from seed and harvested entirely by hand.
Address: Felday Road, Abinger Hammer, Dorking,
Surrey, RH5 6QX.
E-mail: info@kingfisherfarmshop.com
Phone: 01306 730703
Website: www.kingfisherfarmshop.com
Kelvin Dutton
Ordinary
Kelvin works as the Dorset Farm Manager at Vitacress - a company founded in 1951 with a single acre of watercress beds in Alresford, Hampshire. Vitacress has grown into one of Europe’s leading growers and packers of fresh produce and operates a network of farms and glasshouses across Europe, employing over 1,500 people. Vitacress produces a wide range of leafy salads, herbs and specialist crops, including watercress, rocket and baby leaf salads.
Address: VItacress Salads, Mannor Farm, Southbrook Road, Bere Regis, BH20 7HG
E-mail: kelvin.dutton@vitacress.com
Phone: 01264 738766
Website: www.vitacress.com
Daniel Crabb
Ordinary
Daniel works as the Hampshire Farm Manager at Vitacress.
Address: Vitacress Salads, Lower Link Farm, St Mary Bourne, Andover, SP11 6DB
E-mail: daniel.crabb@vitacress.com
Phone: 01264 738766
Website: www.vitacress.com
Andrew Eastwood
Ordinary
Andrew works as the Managing Director at Vitacress.
Address: Lower Link Farm, St Mary Bourne, Andover, SP11 6DB
E-mail: andrew.eastwood@vitacress.com
Phone: 01264 738766
Website: www.vitacress.com
Ed Scales
Associated
Following their recent successful planning permission bid, Watercress Glamping at Spring Farm, West Ashling, will feature six self-contained pods for two adults. The site, which operated as a watercress farm for over 100 years, will retain two working watercress beds with produce available for purchase, while the remaining beds will be transformed into wildlife ponds.
Address: Spring Gardens Cottage, Newells Lane, West Ashling, West Sussex
E-mail: edd@watercress.plus.com
Phone: 07514 287658
Website: www.watercressglamping.co.uk
James Duerden
Associated
Based in South West Lancashire, Duerden Bros is a fourth-generation family business with over 100 years’ experience growing and supplying cress, watercress, and beansprouts. All produce is grown and packed on-site, allowing orders to be harvested, packed, and ready for delivery within four hours. Supplying year-round, they distribute across the UK and Ireland.
Address: Sunnydale Nurseries, Parker Lane, Whitestake, Preston, PR4 4JX
E-mail: office@duerdenbros.co.uk
Phone: 01772 617795
Website: www.duerdenbros.co.uk
Kevin Gosling
Associated
Founded in 2020 by Kevin Gosling, who has 45 years’ experience in local government, SAFE2EAT Ltd provides expert food safety advice and audits for businesses.
Address: 94 Priors Dean Road, Winchester, SO22 6JY
E-mail: safe2eatltd@gmail.com
Tim Evans
Tim Evans is a Senior Trading Standards Officer at Dorset County Council. He has a highly experienced background in criminal investigations related to breaches of trading standards legislation , including intellectual property and product safety.
Address: County Hall Colliton Park, Dorchester DT1 1XJ
E-mail: tim.evans@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Phone: 01305 225063
Website: www.Dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Kevin Owen
Address: Llanelwedd House Llanelwedd Terrace, Builth Wells, LD2 3SR
E-mail: kevin.owen@nfu.org.uk
Phone: 01982 554200
Website: www.nfu-cymru.org.uk
Kevin Owen has a rich background in the National Farmers' Union and has been involved in their networks and subscriptions, contributing to the organisations operations and membership services.
