At Rook Row, the farm grows outdoor niche vegetable crops including runner beans, tenderstem broccoli, broad beans and helda beans for UK supermarkets, and it also has its own pack house on site where all of the harvested crops are packed.
The farm is located in Herefordshire, close the the Malvern Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty. The farm is situated four miles from Ledbury and Malvern in the heart of England.
There is a bus service to Ledbury and Worcester from the end of the road, around a 3 minute walk from the farm. From Ledbury you can get to Gloucester by bus, old market town Hereford by train, and Birmingham is 40 minutes away by train. All the nearest cities provide sufficient shopping and many fun activities, e.g. Cinema, museums, bowling, swimming pools etc Many other towns and cities are accessible by train from Ledbury.
The farm provides a weekly shopping trip to a local superstore to purchase provisions.
The Farm will organises trips to many of UK's attractions, such as London, Bath, theme parks and seaside destinations, and are open to suggestions on places to visit.
Please ensure you bring sufficient bedding and warm clothing as the farm does not provide bedding.
Due to its Location Rook Row prefers participants not to have a car. However should a participant request to bring a car, careful consideration will be given to permitting this and its use on site, participants should not arrive with a car without first checking with their Agent, Concordia or the Farm as to the position with regard to this.
**ALL ARRIVALS NEED TO ARRIVE ON SITE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8AM - 6PM - NO ARRIVALS ON A SATURDAY **
Accommodation The accommodation here at the farm is in mobile homes.
There are single and double beds with mattresses and wardrobes. All mobile homes have toilets and showers. The kitchen facilities include a cooker, a fridge, a kettle, a microwave, cooking pots, cutlery, crockery, tables and chairs. Washing machines are provided and there is a recreational area with a television, table tennis and Pool table. Wireless internet is also available. Barbecue's are also available.
All participants must provide and cook their own food and keep their living areas clean and tidy. All participants must bring bedding. Please ensure your bedding is warm as it can be cold in the UK at times.
You need to bring warm clothing, waterproof clothing and rubber boots, Suitable for farming. Although waterproofs can be bought on site.
YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO SHARE ACCOMMODATION AND THIS WILL BE BETWEEN 4 AND 6 PEOPLE PER MOBILE HOME.
Communal facilities Table tennis, pool table and a television. Washing Machines and driers are communal and chargeable at £1.20 a cycle. Wi-Fi is free of charge.
Accommodation charges TOTAL:
£57.80 per week for caravans. (this makes an allowance for cost towards gas and electric.) £63.70 per week for a cabin (this is higher due to no purchase of gas or electric)
Please be advised the above accommodation charges are subject to change from 1st April 2024 at the company discretion. The new rate will be no higher than the rates specified by government
The first bottle of gas is provided and also the first electricity card.
Additional consumption of gas will be charged separately at cost and electricity is metered (workers will have to buy additional electricity cards).
Type of work -The work is mainly to do with the growing, harvesting and packing of vegetable crops.
-The first phase of participants will be mainly working on the planting and preparation of runner beans and tenderstem including covering low poly tunnels and putting up bamboo canes.
-The second phase of participants will be allocated to either harvesting or packing tenderstem and broad beans. There will be some other crop husbandry work including twisting runner beans.
-The third phase of participants will be harvesting and packing runner beans and helda beans. These are grown on bamboos and are usually picked by hand into 10 kg boxes using wheelbarrows to move the boxes
-Work at the end of the season includes harvesting, taking down bamboo canes and clearing away after the crop.
-We hope with the variety of jobs we offer, we have something to suit everyone. However participants will not be able to pick and choose what they do and do not do. They will be expected to carry out more than one job.
-The beans are grown for many of the major supermarkets in the UK who expect a very high standard. All participants will be expected to wear hats when harvesting and maintain very high hygiene standards whilst working at A.S. Green.
-Harvesting and pack house work is usually on a production target basis, either as part of a team or individually. Bonus systems are also used. Participants should note that all work may be weather dependent. There is some driving of both tractors and other vehicles, Rook Row welcomes careful drivers of vehicles all of whom must be over 25 years of age due to insurance restrictions.
Crops grown -Tenderstem broccoli
- Broad beans - Helda beans - Runner beans
Working times
Days when work may be available Work is usually available up to 6 days a week. The starting time may vary due to weather conditions. The day off will vary dependant on which shift or group you are in.
Hours worked up to Between 7 and 9 hours per day (approximately). This will depend on weather and crop.
Length of training Induction training will be given after arrival, prior to starting work. Training will be given for all work, and we would usually expect participants to have learned the work they are carrying out and to have gained some degree of speed within one /two weeks.
Pay rates
Pay rate £ 10.42 per hour
Overtime offered Yes
Overtime after 48.0 hours
Overtime rate Time and a quarter
Guaranteed hours 32.0 per week
Pay
Pay day Production slips are emailed out forthnightly. You will need a valid email address.
Payroll is run every 2 weeks and this is paid directly into the workers bank account. All monies are paid into a bank account and there are no exceptions to this.
Please bring sufficient money with you to last until pay day. Concordia strongly recommend you bring £150.
Average gross earnings weekly On average you can expect to earn between £370/£400 gross pay per week depending on the crop, your ability and the weather.
The farm operates a Bonus system also.
Rates of pay Rates of pay will be both hourly at £10.42 hour and production based piecework. Targets will be set but these will be based on an average worker, if you are unable to achieve your targets then you may be asked to leave the farm.
https://central.concordia.org.uk/agent/farms/7855 3/6 03.04.2024, 18:13 | Concordia Agent Overtime is after 48 hrs per week at a rate of time and a quarter.
Please be aware that the above pay rates may change from 1st April 2024 once announced by the government (please visit www.gov.uk)
Travel directions How to get to Rook Row Farm by coach from London Victoria: visit www.nationalexpress.com
By BUS from LONDON VICTORIA - National Express to GREAT MALVERN or LEDBURY
By TRAIN from LONDON PADDINGTON to GREAT MALVERN
** PLEASE NOTE THAT CARS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON SITE **
** All arrivals should be by prior notice and PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT GATES WILL BE LOCKED AT NIGHT so there should be no arrivals before 8.00 a.m. and after 6 p.m. **
** NO ARRIVALS ON A SATURDAY **
OUT OF HOUR ARRIVALS SUBJECT TO PRIOR AGREEMENT ONLY.
***Participants to notify us of an estimated time of arrival by phone if they intend to arrive on the farm direct***
What 3 words’ ///proudest.slimy.oatmeal
Latest accepted arrival time Sunday to Friday
8 a.m to 8 p.m
***NO ARRIVALS ON A SATURDAY***
****NO ARRIVALS OUT OF HOURS****
Cars allowed No
Weekend arrivals accepted No
Travel contact Lucy Parker Tel: 01886880512 / 07535415402 / 07792535350 Email: asgreenlimited@btconnect.com or caroline@asgreenltd.com or hr@asgreenltd.com
