Vineyard uses hundreds of CANDLES to stop its grapes being damaged by spring frost
ONE of Britain’s top vineyards is lighting up hundreds of candles in a bid to prevent its grapes being damaged by a late spring frost.
Workers at Leckford Estate were forced to light candles at the farm to protect their grape vines
Freezing temperatures have prompted workers at Leckford Estate, Hampshire, to light 750 candles around the farm to help heat the air, create movement, and stop the frost from taking hold around the vines.
The estate’s action comes as the country faces unseasonably cold weather.
Earlier this week, snow moved down from Scotland, hitting northern England and the Midlands, with some flurries reported as far south as Hertfordshire.
However, the cold snap is due to end tomorrow, with temperatures rising to the mid-fifties before topping 60 degrees on Sunday.
The candles were lit to help heat the air, create movement and stop the frost from ruining the vines
Emma Sharpels, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “It’s fairly typical of weather in April, where you get a bit of everything and you get more active systems.
“Temperatures have been below average for this time of year because we have had the weather coming through from the Arctic.”
Late spring frost could go away as temperatures are expected to increase by Sunday
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She added: “We had some snowfall in areas of Scotland and the north of England of around 4-8 cm (1.5 to 3in).
“We did have a warning out which covered north-east Scotland and north-east England.”