Saul had a mission: to bring spelt back into the British diet. Spelt was cultivated in the Middle East 9000 years ago, loved by the Romans, and eaten in Britain as far back as 2000 BC. However, it fell out of favour in medieval times, despite being nutritious and tasty, in favour of higher-yielding crops.“Spelt is a cross between Emmer Wheat and Goats Grass, and has a distinctive, naturally nutty flavour,” say the Sharpham Park team. “Unlike common wheat, spelt has not been hybridised or chemically altered, and it remains as simple and hardy as it was when it was first introduced.” Sharpham now leads the way as the main grower of British spelt.
It’s not just spelt that Saul is restoring. He has returned red deer to Sharpham Park, brought back rare breeds, and planted 300 walnut trees. Out in the fields, he has created an organic crop rotation (cycling land through different plants and livestock over time), to protect the environment and the soil, whilst producing as much good, organic food as possible.
