Our Farm Blog

Tuesday 11 June 2013

What's In Your Cup? - Sustainable Firewood


What's In Your Cup? - Sustainable Firewood

At Williamson Tea Group we take both our commercial activities and Corporate Social Responsibilities very seriously. Our commitment to sustainable production has meant that for the past 5 years we have been actively engaged in securing our own source of firewood and by the end of 2015 we hope to have secured sufficient areas on our own land to manage our factories responsibly and sustainably for years to come soley with our own source of Eucalyptus Gum trees. 

Whilst not only providing sustainable power for our factories, Gum plantations also provide an important sink for Carbon, aiding our Carbon Footprint and providing habitat for local wildlife.

Regrettably this is not always the case with our competitors.  More factories in Kenya are opening and being granted manufacturing licenses.  These factories do not have a secured supply of sustainable firewood and we often view immature and unseasoned wood from indigenous or unsustainable sources being sold, even on the roadsides.  This practice was highlighted by a quick witted journalist in a recent newspaper article and our trade body the KTGA has taken up the matter with the appropriate authorities. The lack of sustainable firewood to power our boilers and the lack of current cost effective alternatives places a heavy restriction on the future growth of the Kenya Tea Industry.


Tuesday 4 June 2013

Open Farm Sunday

Open Farm Sunday

On 9th June farms across the UK open their gates to the public for Open Farm Sunday. With guided tours, nature trails, tractor rides and food markets all for free, the aim is to promote British farms and their produce, as well as their essential role as guardians of the countryside. 

Whilst unfortunately we can't open the gates of our Kenyan farms to the UK public, as farmers we fully support this sunday's Open Farm event and are planning a virtual tour of our own farms to try and bring the unique position of the only tea farmers in the market place to the public. Other companies may be able to show you where they source their tea, but we grow ours! We know what's in our cup, do you know what's in yours?

For more information on Open Farm Sundays Visit; http://www.farmsunday.org/ofs12b/home.eb