PINEAPPLE FARM
Our Story
Pineapple Farm has been in our family for 100 years.
Andrew's Great Grandfather, Frank Bussell, took up residence on April 6th 1920.
Since then Sybil Cox then Betty & Phillip Dyke worked the land before handing it on to us.
The farm has predominantly been used for dairy farming, cheese making and even selling chicks whilst Philip was out on his police rounds!
Our Farm
The Estate spans 42 hectares of farmland, primarily consisting of permanent pasture. Our grandparents passed down the farm, alongside passing down a love for nature. This is why it's so important for us to protect this piece of Dorset, to encourage biodiversity for soil & wildlife health. For the past 20 years we have worked on environmental schemes, learning as much as we can, adopting new methods to help the environment here at Pineapple Estate. Leading us to revert back to low intensity farming, reducing pesticide usage and artificial inputs on the soil.
We currently manage the farm within environmental programs, modifying our crop rotation to include pollinator flower mixes, permanent pasture, and legume and herb-rich swards. These crops focus on nitrogen cycling, support wildlife, and enhance soil health. We have been monitoring the impact this has on our farm, to create data lead insight into carbon capture.
There is so much for us to learn & do, but we have high hopes for what we can achieved. By giving biodiversity and the environment an opportunity to flourish, we hope to learn from nature.
Farming with Nature
What we do on the farm & grounds to help nature.
91kw of solar on site. Suppling over 30% of the Estate. Bought in supply is of renewable source.
42 hectares in Environmental Stewardship Schemes. FLower, legume and grass mixes for pollinators and nitrogen cycling.
0.7 hectares of pollinator meadows and 2.15 hectares of wild flower margins. Creating spaces for invertebrate and insects.
Our small woodland is under the "Sites of Nature Conservation Interest". Botanical surveys undertaken by Dorset Wildlife Trust.
Bi-annual & Tri-annual hedge cutting on the majority of hedges, to protect bird nests.
3 years of soil carbon audits and 1 year of emmision calculations, to understand how much we are sequestering and how we can reduce our footprint.
Changing all lights across the Estate to LED. This project has been part funded by Low Carbon Dorset, as part of the European Regional Development Fund. This will save over 5.8 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
Our little apple orchard of 0.21 hectares has 27 trees.
The apples make plenty of puddings and apple juice. Any not used by us, makes for lots of food for little critters & the soil.
Reduced application of pesticide and artificial inputs on agricultural land. If used, specific application and not blanket spraying.
6.3 Km of hedge row and more than 170 trees, including Hazel, Willow, Blackthorn, Ash, Oak and Apple Trees.
Further 188 acorns collected & planted over the past few years, which are currently growing into saplings.
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Making our own compost and when necessary, only buying peat free.
Annually cutting wildlife meadow, only from the center out, to allow small mammals to retreat to other nearby habitat.
What We Stand For
Local
We are part of, and support the local community, ecology and economy. We are proud to showcase the amazing West Dorset businesses through the Business Park and shop.
Conscious
We are committed to seeking ways to reduce our environmental footprint. This has been through renewable energy sources and a rejuvenated way of managing our land. Where possible we source local, or conscious, products for our shop.
Accessible
Public footpaths through the Estate allow guests to experience the surrounding countryside. The campsite allows adults to have an immersive experience within the West Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
