Free range egg investments are coming home to roost for David
Last updated 10:12, Friday, 04 July 2008
Farmer David Brass has launched a premium egg brand which could bring thousands of pounds of extra revenue to the county.
Natures Nest eggs are already on sale at Morrisons supermarkets for £1.62 – 10p per half dozen more than its standard free range eggs.
Mr Brass and wife Helen, of The Lakes Free Range Egg Company, launched the ‘ethical’ brand in 150 Morrisons stores nationwide.
Natures Nest egg producers live within a 20-mile radius of the packing plant so the carbon footprint is kept low.
The egg boxes are made from recycled cardboard while waste from the farms is recycled to provide all the hot water they need.
Mr Brass, who has been a free range farmer for 20 years, said: “We wanted to create our own brand because we have built such great provenance in the last two decades in terms of developing the habitat for our hens and caring for woodlands and wildlife.
“We are also the largest specialist free range egg producers in the country so can cope with the volume we anticipate needing.
“Retailers like Morrisons are looking for products that have the ethical provenance for animal welfare and environmental care – their customers are demanding it and Natures Nest fits the criteria very well.”
The brand will help the environment in other ways.
A penny per dozen will go to woodland wildlife, including providing red squirrel boxes on farms and in nature reserves. Support will also be given to local trusts to help with the protection of other species like the dormouse, water vole and ospreys.
Mrs Brass said “We have four young daughters (two sets of twins) who’ve grown up collecting eggs, planting trees and with a constant awareness of their environment.
“They’re very excited that we have created something tangible that demonstrates what we have been doing for years – and they love the fact that we included a red squirrel on the egg boxes.”
Mr and Mrs Brass began a programme of tree planting over a decade ago to improve the habitat of their hens.
On average, Natures Nest egg producers have 12,000 trees on their farms and they all use naturally-ventilated hen houses. This saves up to 70 per cent in energy costs.
Mr Brass added: “This spring we planted 100 acres of trees in one week, adding to the tens of thousands of trees planted in previous years.”
The Lakes Free Range Egg Company was set up in 1997 and now employs 50 people.
Its farmers look after 350,000 free range chickens.
