#MCCOTInterview {23}
Robert Newborough, the British Lord Farmer who leads the way towards a sustainable agriculture
Robert Newborough is a British Lord and a Baron. Since 1998, he is the lucky owner and Custodian of the Rhug Estate, a beautiful and wide property located in an idyllic part of North Wales and owned by his family since the 16 th century, which is one of the biggest -12,500 acres- organic farms in the United Kingdom. As a proud organic farming pioneer and sustainability advocate for over two decades, together with his team, he produces the highest quality products in the most sustainable and environmentally friendly way. His green commitment has been rewarded: In 2018, Rhug Estate was appointed a Royal Warrant by HRH Prince Charles. He has also became a true role model for the new generation of young British farmers. In 2020, he has founded the truly authentic organic and natural skincare brand 'Made in UK', Rhug Wild Beauty, which is built on the rich heritage (wild plants) of the estate and its experience in organic and sustainable farming practice. Let's meet a Lord farmer who really cares about environment. A generous human being who follows his heart and wants to continue to do his part to provide a better and healthier world for future generations.
By Hélène Battaglia
Who are you?
I am Lord Newborough, the 8 th Baron and custodian of Rhug Estate. The estate came into the Wynn family, of which I’m a member, in the 16th century. I am an organic farming pioneer and sustainability advocate. I have been championing the highest standards of organic farming and sustainability for many years. I believe it is essential that we protect and enhance the environment for future generations. Over the past few years, Rhug Estate has transformed, under my leadership, into an award-winning diverse business which is recognized for embracing sustainable organic farming, green energy, retailing, wholesaling, and most recently, skincare with the launch of the Wild Beauty collection. In 2018 Rhug Estate was appointed a Royal Warrant by HRH Prince Charles.
How long have you been the Lord owner/farmer of the Rhug Estate?
I inherited Rhug Estate from my father in 1998.
When did you decide to go organic and why?
When I took over the estate, it was being run as a low input low output farm just producing lambs and little else. This gave me the opportunity to do something I really believed in, which was farming in the most sustainable way, by embracing the highest standards of animal welfare and producing the highest quality meat, free of toxins and, at the same time, enhancing the environment. The farm has subsequently grown from 1.500 acres employing 9 people to 8.000 acres. The business now provides employment for 110 people.
How much time, work and training did it take you to become the proud and renowned British ambassador of sustainable agriculture you are?
Organic farming has many more challenges and rewards than conventional farming, there are no quick fixes - you can't use artificial fertiliser or the sprayer or use medication on your animals as you would with conventional farming methods. Everything must be done in a natural way, working with the environment and the seasons. It is all to do with prevention rather than cure - you must plan years ahead and farm using modern ways but at the same time being traditional in your thinking. Stress free animals produce the highest quality meat and it is rewarding to see the Rhug's name appears on some of the best Michelin star menus in the world.
Which kind of place would you say Rhug Estate is?
Rhug is home to some of the most beautiful countryside in the world. Rhug Estate sits in an idyllic part of North Wales, the River Dee flows through its heart, with the spectacular backdrop of the Berwyn Mountains and in the distance, the Snowdonia National Park . The estate covers 12,500 acres of North Wales extending from Gwyddelwern in the North, Carrog to the East, Cynwyd to the South and Maerdy to the West, and is one of the biggest organic farms in the country. It is an unspoilt landscape of mountains, organic clover-rich pastures, trees, hedgerows, rivers and lakes, where the air is fresh and the nurtured organic land supports an abundance of wildlife. The estate is also home to some of the most wonderful organic and wild foraged ingredients, many of which we are now using in our skincare collection. We are using our own organic oats and spring water, as well as honey and beeswax. We wild forage for heather, meadowsweet, gorse, elderflower, dandelion, lemon balm, nettle leaf, hawthorn, yarrow and herb robert, waiting for particular plants to flower and mature and for the optimum time to pick different parts of the plants.
You have recently founded the green Rhug Wild Beauty brand. What brought you to this decision to enter the skincare’s market?
I’ve always had an eye on how we can continue to grow the businesses at Rhug, and where we may be able to diversify. We started to use some of the plants in our kitchen, and that then led to discussions about other potential uses. I felt there was an opportunity to create a truly authentic organic and natural skincare brand, building on the rich heritage of the estate and all our experience in organic and sustainable farming practices. Since making that decision the team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to create products that are as exceptional as they are beneficial, and which are made in the UK with integrity and care for the environment using recyclable packaging. It’s been an exciting journey so far, and we’re already now embarking on phase two of our product development.
What is exactly Rhug Wild Beauty about?
By encapsulating the wild beauty of Rhug Estate in a bottle, we are essentially offering customers the opportunity to use the most natural and organic skincare products in their homes, whether they are in the countryside or in the city. Our skincare collection is a unique story of organic security and provenance from a modern heritage brand. Our team has harnessed natural, wild foraged and organic ingredients with the benefits of proven actives for the collection. Our chosen ingredients contain essential vitamins and minerals, while fragrances are 100% natural and made using essential oils. All products are made in the UK with integrity and care for the environment, using recyclable materials. Each element from the ingredients through to the packaging goes through a considered process to ensure it meets the Estate’s long-established high sustainability standards before being approved for use. It was essential to us that our products carry the highest certifications of COSMOS, Leaping Bunny cruelty-free, Vegan (not all products), Halal and Gluten Free. The collection is free from Sulphates, GM ingredients, artificial fragrances, artificial colours, parabens and harsh chemicals. At Rhug, we have championed the highest standards of organic and sustainable farming for many years, thereby enhancing and protecting the environment. It is no coincidence that there is therefore a much greater diversity of wildlife and naturally occurring plants on the estate. These plants are clean, natural and free from toxins. With such a wide array of them growing all around us at Rhug we set about understanding which plants had the right qualities and could be applied to our skincare collection. It’s been fascinating to see the development of our collection, blending some of the most precious skincare ingredients, with our own plants, to create a range of organic, natural and effective products. I’ve walked past heather, gorse and herb on the estate for many years, but until I started working on the products I had no idea of their beneficial qualities!
How do you feel being considered a real role model for many young farmers in the UK?
I am really not sure about this, all we have tried to do over the years is something we feel is right and is good for the environment; it is more by luck and good fortune we seem to be in the right place at the right time. If by doing something we believe in, we have ended up being a role model to others this makes it all doubly worthwhile. It is important to follow your heart and if you believe in something enough, you will make it work. Our values at Rhug are to produce the highest quality products in the most sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
By the way, as a green farmer, what is your daily commitment for the environment?
We eat organically every day and use renewable energy sources at both our home and on the wider estate. I truly believe that the more small steps we make on a daily basis, the more we can create change as a whole.
How has your life changed since you’ve become an environmental activist?
I am always looking for ways to improve our sustainability and environmental work at Rhug Estate. For example, we have recently invested in measuring and monitoring our carbon footprint so that we can make improvements. A bespoke climate action plan has been developed to mitigate and offset emissions across every sector of the business, including the residential properties, let farms and forestry, green energy, retail, wholesale, and skincare. Rhug Estate farm has reduced carbon emissions, enhanced carbon sequestration, resulting in carbon negative status. Increasing the length and height of hedgerows, the number of trees on the farm and soil organic carbon levels are examples of some of the methods of increasing carbon sequestration.
Two Farm Walks have been specially designed for visitors to have a sneak peak of farm life. What do you expect them to learn through this experience?
We wanted to give visitors, both local and tourists, an insight into the estate's farm life. Rhug is a working farm so you'll see varies animals each time you visit – depending on the time of the year, you may see the sheep flock before they head in for lambing and the herd of Bison.
What is your main wish for Rhug Estate in the next decades?
Rhug is my every breath and I want to see the Rhug story continue. Over the last twenty two years we have strived to add value using the natural assets that God gave us on an estate like this and it is that theme I would like to continue for the future. We will continue to farm in a way that is good for the environment and there is so much we can still do to improve the soil structure and enhance our carbon sequestration. We will plant more trees, hedgerows and herbal lays and fence of valuable areas of habitat and flora and fauna. I want to generate a lot more green energy using wind, hydro, geothermal, solar and battery storage. Wild Beauty skincare is a new and exciting edition to our portfolio which excites me enormously, and I feel we have so many exciting unique selling points to this skincare brand which will stand out like a beacon of light in this crowded market; efficacy, luxury, unrivalled provenance, heritage, carbon neutral and honest. In the coming years, it is my wish to see this become well established in the global market. It is my wish to see Rhug leading the field, producing products of the highest quality in the most carbon efficient that is good for the environment. I want to continue to do my part to provide a better healthier world for future generations.
All the pictures & video are Courtesy of Rhug Estate
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