Jam-makers Wilkin & Sons are the first in the UK to pilot a new strawberry growing system.

Peter Wilkin, chairman and great-grandson of the Tiptree firm’s founder, unveiled the system alongside farm manager, Andrey Ivanov, and director, Chris Newenham.

The system, called NGS, allows farms to place up to 200,000 plants per hectare because there is no longer a need for gaps between them.

For Wilkin & Sons, it means the potential for at least 200 per cent more planted strawberries, its crop of choice, while reducing water consumption.

The integrated system works on electronically-controlled pulleys, which raise and lower alternate rows of strawberry plants, making it easier for the pickers to walk under one row and collect fruit on the next row.

Mr Newenham said: “The new growing system in its specially built covered frame was a huge investment for the company and we hope to see the results of our faith in the system over the next 12 months.

“Tiptree is one of the driest parts of the driest county so we are delighted with the system being 80 per cent self-sufficient as it uses rain water from the roof and run-off to keep the plants watered. Instead of 50,000 plants per hectare in the traditional system we can now plant 100,000 and probably 150,000 plants per hectare in the NGS.”

Wilkin & Sons has started to upgrade and expand its jam-making factory in Tiptree after relocation plans fell through.

Its plans to build a new factory in Tiptree, and 244 new homes to fund it, were scrapped last year when the business grew beyond its expectations. Instead, it is expanding its existing factory in the village.