Enjoying the fresh country air with Arla // AD

*A paid-partnership with Arla*

Whenever we get chance, I love to get the family in the car and go off exploring. We usually end up driving out into the countryside as it’s the freedom and the space that we miss from living in such a built up, urban environment. One of the best things about being outside in the countryside is the fresh air but sometimes it can get a bit whiffy, as farmers use muck spreading as part of their soil and crop fertilisation processes. But all of that is about to change thanks to Arla and its commitment to a more sustainable future. 

Fresher country air from Arla 

You might well know Arla for their variety of dairy products in the supermarket such as Cravendale, Lurpak and Skyr. The dairy cooperative are farmer owned and have been making changes towards becoming more sustainable. One of the ways it is changing is how it is encouraging it’s  2,400 UK farmers to adopt more environmentally-friendly muck spreading techniques. In turn this will help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve soil health and reclaim that ‘fresh country air’ but without the slurry smell.

Traditionally, the slurry-spreading technique sprays slurry (cow manure) three metres high into the air. As it settles on the field, releases ammonia and other pungent smelling gases into the air. However, using alternative techniques such as injecting the slurry directly into the earth and dribbling it along the surface of the fields, will vastly help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enrich the soil and improve soil health. It’s said that these new techniques will lead to a reduction in air-born emissions of between 30-90%* which will make a huge difference to the smell of the country air around Arla farms. I love that Arla are investing in the present, the here and now, to protect the future of our countryside for all of us to enjoy. 

Bringing the outside in with the new limited-edition room fragrance 

To celebrate the new muck-spreading techniques that Arla is adopting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on its  farms, the company  has launched a limited-edition room fragrance that brings the smell of being outside inside your home.

I’ve had the diffuser open at home for the past week and I have to say it’s a really refreshing scent. It’s not over-powering at all but fragrant enough to evoke the senses. If you closed your eyes you could definitely imagine sitting on a hay bale in the middle of a field watching the clouds roll by in the distance. It’s a peaceful, relaxing scent and one that I am enjoying having in my home. 

As someone who enjoys a road-trip out to the countryside, I’m keen to find out if I notice a difference in the fresh country air I crave so much. Sustainable farming techniques are definitely the future and I’m looking forward to reaping the benefits. 

*Sources: Defra, AHDB, National GHG Inventory, Ammonia Inventory and Natural England (verified by independent environmental consultancy, Promar).