News

Wines of Great Britain (WineGB) held its national pruning competition, affectionately known as ‘The Battle of the Secateurs’, on 7 March 2025. Competitors, judges, spectators, and sponsors (including Claire Seymour and Tim Sillence from NP Seymour) attended this annual event which was kindly hosted Clayhill Vineyard in Essex. Proudly supported by headline sponsors NP Seymour … Continue reading →

We’re very proud to announce that on Tuesday 4th March 2025, Nick Seymour was awarded The David Hilton Memorial Award at the East Kent Fruit Society annual presentation evening. David Hilton was a well respected East Kent fruit grower, and tireless supporter of the UK fruit industry and of the East Kent Fruit Society. He … Continue reading →

Dr Charles Whitfield, from NIAB, provided an overview and some key updates on the POME project at the BAPL and NIAB annual Technical Day on 10th February 2025.  Building on the work of the PODS (Precision Orchard Dosing System) project, POME (Precision Orchard Management for the Environment) aims to develop a commercially viable system for … Continue reading →

When spring frosts hit, the damage caused by freezing temperatures and consequential smaller crops can ripple throughout the industry, devastating everyone from growers right down to the on- and off-trade.  Frost is something most growers in the UK will have to deal with, especially as climate change is increasing the likelihood of spring frost events … Continue reading →

Now is the ideal time to start planning essential winter machinery servicing for your tractors and implements.  Proactive maintenance not only reduces the risk of unexpected breakdowns but also helps to minimise costly emergency repairs, keeping your machinery in peak condition and avoiding unnecessary downtime during critical growing periods. Well-maintained machinery operates at maximum efficiency, … Continue reading →

For vineyard managers, dealing with vine prunings has long been a seasonal challenge. Traditional methods, such as removing or burning the cuttings, come with significant drawbacks. Burning prunings, while occasionally offering warmth on cold days, is unsustainable and contributes to significant air pollution, especially in larger vineyards. The labour-intensive task of clearing rows entirely also … Continue reading →

Pruning is one of the most labour-intensive tasks in vineyard management, especially in the UK, where achieving the right crop load and vine balance is essential.  To help vineyard managers streamline operations and increase profitability, NP Seymour offers advanced machinery from Germany’s leading vineyard machinery manufacturer, ERO, that quickly transforms the pruning process.  The ERO … Continue reading →

On 22 October 2024 we hosted an exclusive demonstration of the ERO Grapeliner 7000 series self-propelled mechanical grape harvester at Greyfriars Vineyard in Surrey. Attendees had the chance to see this advanced machine in action, including being able to sit in the cab with contractor and operator Sam Barnes to see how the cab’s central location, glass … Continue reading →

NP Seymour, the UK’s leading provider of specialist orchard and vineyard machinery, is thrilled to announce its partnership with German manufacturer ERO GmbH as the first UK dealership to supply the renowned ERO Grapeliner 7000 series mechanical grape harvesters.  Known for exceptional harvest quality, low fuel consumption, and superior operator comfort, the Grapeliner 7000 series … Continue reading →

While we are huge advocates of mechanical harvesters, such as the ERO Grapeliner 7000 series, we recognise that not all fruit is suitable for machine harvesting, and the majority of English and Welsh wine producers will continue to harvest by hand. Thankfully, a range of modern equipment is designed to make life as easy and … Continue reading →

Over 100 top fruit growers and vineyard managers travelled from across the UK to attend NP Seymour’s two-day specialist fruit and vine machinery demonstration event on 18 and 19 July 2024. Alongside celebrating the Kent-based machinery dealership’s 50th anniversary and 40 years of working with Fendt to supply and service the manufacturer’s specialist 200 V/F/P … Continue reading →

It’s that time of year when vineyard managers turn their thoughts to the importance and benefits of opening up and controlling the canopy as early as possible.  It’s widely well-known that good ventilation in the fruiting zone reduces the risk of botrytis and other fungal diseases, improves spray targeting and efficacy, and also increases the … Continue reading →