A TILLINGHAM farm has received more than £20,000 of funding towards a robotic weeder that will help the farm’s productivity.

Tillingham Hall Farms and Sarah Green’s Organics were awarded £23,000 in grant funding towards a Robocrop, which is an innovative, camera-guided robotic weeded which will allow high speed weed control.

This will ultimately lead to more reliable production and improve the viability of the farm.

It will also allow the farm to increase their vegetable growing area by more than four hectares, to a total of 21.86 hectares, as well as allowing them to take on a further two members of full time staff.

The cash was provided by the EU LEADER fund, and distributed by the Essex Rivers Local Action Group, who are responsible for providing £1.8million of LEADER funding to organisations in Essex.

The aim of the grant is to boost growth and create jobs in the countryside.

Robert Davidson, Chairman of the Essex Rivers Local Action Group, said: “We were delighted to be able to support his project by granting this money. This is great news for the rural economy in Essex and will lead to more jobs and a boost in the community.”

For information about applying for a share of the grant funding, contact Beverley Davies at the Rural Community Council of Essex on 01376 547330 or visit essexrcc.org.uk.