Many of the volunteers have been helping at Lokkelebery Vineyard at Welwyn since it was first planted on the Buisman family’s arable farm in 2022.
Farmer and vineyard manager Hannah Buisman said they fulfilled a vital role and had helped ensure the vineyard produced its first crop a year earlier than expected.
“When we first started talking about planting the vineyard, we were extremely concerned about labour shortages. We were acutely aware that it was an issue and it was almost grounds for cancelling the project because we were that worried about it,” she said.
“Then we went to a couple of other vineyards and became aware of their volunteer programmes. We really liked the idea. At the same time, lots of people became interested when they heard about the vineyard and asked if it would be possible to visit or help.
“We thought it would be a great way to capture that interest and also a really nice way to break isolation on farm and connect with the local community.
“It can save some labour costs but, more importantly it can reduce labour uncertainty. If you have the right kind of people volunteering they will come back week after week.
“We were lucky to find eight individuals over the course of a year who were able to commit a significant amount of time and who found the project very interesting. That’s how we formed our core group.”
“We’re not a charity, so you have to tread a fine line. This is a community outreach project, in a way, which helps us with our labour situation.”
Farmer and vineyard owner Hannah Buisman
When the NFU visited, the volunteers were harvesting Chardonnay grapes, while a skilled team of overseas workers harvested Pinot noir grapes on the other side of the vineyard.
One volunteer, Robert, said: “I’ve always been in awe of farmers – the risks they take and the battle they have with the weather and everything. I’m retired and it’s good to give something back.”
Marie, another volunteer, said: “It’s nice to help Hannah, who is starting out in the business. She has such positivity and energy and nothing is a problem. You also appreciate a glass of wine more now because you know what goes into it and it’s nice to be outside, at least when the weather is like this!”
Hannah, pictured with her family, said it was important to remember the volunteers were giving up their free time to help a business and to make sure they were looked after.
“We’re not a charity, so you have to tread a fine line. This is a community outreach project, in a way, which helps us with our labour situation,” she said.
“There are certain jobs in the vineyard, which I call ‘icing on the cake jobs’, where it wouldn’t be economic to pay a team to carry out. For example, we carried out an audit in the summer with our volunteers, to find out how many unproductive vines we had.
“That is very useful information but I wouldn’t pay for someone to come and do that.
“We don’t want to be any vineyard, we want to be an ‘icing on the cake’ vineyard, and that’s where the amazing value is with our volunteers.”
The first harvest is due to deliver around 10,000 bottles of sparkling wine.
“It will be 2026 before we taste the first glass but it will be worth it, hopefully!” said Hannah.