Scilly Vineyard
Sarah Swadling meets Holly Tobbins and James Faulconbridge, who took a holiday in the Isles of Scilly, on a whim, and ended up running a vineyard on the tiny island of St Martin’s.
Holly Robbins and James Faulconbridge swapped life in landlocked Nottinghamshire for a vineyard tucked behind the dunes on St Martins, one of the Isles of Scilly. They tell Sarah Swadling how they went on holiday to the islands and, more or less, came home with a vineyard. Their philosophy is to treat the land as a nature reserve which happens to produce wine, cider, and apple juice. Holly and James decided not to use any chemicals and fossil fuels in managing the vines. Sarah hears how they've immersed themselves in island life. They're now keen Pilot Gig rowers, racing the traditional boats once used to transport pilots out to ships making their way through Scilly's treacherous rocks.
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Broadcast
- Sun 6 Apr 2025 06:35ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4