Andy Hunt
I was born into farming. My father was the manager of a mixed farm in Warwickshire so I've had an interest in farming and growing from an early age.
On leaving school I went to Harper Adams College to study agriculture. I'm now the chief grower at Lower Hope farm, growing English cherries.
There鈥檚 no such thing as an average year.Andy Hunt, fruit farmer
I moved to Herefordshire when I was 38. What I loved most was seeing all these species of birds that I hadn't seen since I was a kid such as buzzards and hawks that we all take for granted now. It was like being back in the countryside again.
I grow 18 types of cherry and by May 2014 I'll have been growing at Lower Hope for 25 years. The rolling landscape, the variety of the crops grown and the fields, just the general look of the place, such a wide range of habitats and species, I love the nature in the landscape where I work. I also love the rhythms in the weather through the year, from the snow and frost in winter to the breeze blowing through the polytunnels in summer.
There's a real sense of satisfaction in growing the trees on and seeing them finally produce fruit. The team at Lower Hope is brilliant. There are so many people around, all busy picking at harvest time. It's great to see the crop that we've nurtured finally coming in.
