Hampshire farmers reap benefits of sunny weather

The balmy weather has been not only been welcomed by sun-worshippers but has also been good news for the county's growers.

Hampshire farmers are reporting bumper crops of strawberries, cherries, asparagus and rapeseed thanks to the unseasonably warm temperatures.

Pauline Goodall of Goodall's Strawberry Farm in South Baddesley Road, Lymington, said their strawberries had already ripened - 10 days earlier than previous years.

It comes as they prepare to open the gates to 'pick your own' customers on May 1.

Pauline said: “The strawberries are going to be early this year because of this lovely sunshine that we're getting which is bringing the blossom up.

“We're also going to have a bumper crop of cherries this year.

“The earlier the fruit comes the more it's worth because it's the first fruit of the year.”

Rapeseed growers have also benefitted from the sunshine as fields of the golden plant used to make cooking oil has sprouted across the county in force.

Piers Ockenden, owner of Raglington Farm in Shedfield said: “The quality and yield potential of the crop is far better than previous years.

“We don't really know whether it's been a good start to the growing season, it really depends on the weather we get in the next few weeks.”

Rob Cox, who manages Sopley Farm near Bransgore said they are harvesting more asparagus than in the last three years.

He said: “The weather has pushed it up no ends. More sunshine means it grows quicker. We're cropping a lot more at the moment.

“With asparagus it takes three years before you can really start harvesting it.”

But the sunny streak could end with a bang this weekend as forecasters predict hail and thunder.

It comes after early estimates by the Met Office suggest this month could be the fifth warmest April since records began in 1910 with the average temperature estimated at 10.5C (50.9F) - the same as last year and around 2C (3.2F) warmer than expected.

It has also been one of the driest Aprils on record so far with just 8.5mm of rainfall in the first half of the month - just 15 per cent of what is expected.

Today's weather ...

There will be a cloudy start to this morning with sunshine this afternoon and temperatures of 14-15C (57.2-59F).

It will be a grey day tomorrow with showers in the evening and temperatures of 16C (60.8F).

We are likely to see hail and stormy showers Saturday and Sunday when temperatures begin to drop.

From Monday the weather will be cooler and more unsettled with April showers and sunny spells and temperatures of 12-15C (53.6-59F).