As the British strawberry seasons begins, one grower in Medway has had a head start on the competition and he’s putting it down to a special climate out on the Hoo Peninsula.

“It’s a very nice climate out here, it’s mild because we’re between the two rivers, the ground is quite light and we’re sheltered by the wind breakers we’ve planted,” he said.

“We’re already flat out with strawberries, it’s fortunate that our site is good for early production.”

Growers are predicting a record year for strawberry sales with 76,000 tonnes being produced – the equivalent weight of 6,333 double decker buses.

Last year saw 64,000 tonnes of strawberries sold with sales hitting £275m. This year sales are predicted to be £235m.

According to the soft fruit industry the increased yield is down to the extended season, new varieties, innovative growing methods and more acres planted.

This winter, Britain enjoyed record levels of sunlight totalling 196 hours and the Met Office reported that Wednesday, April 15, was the warmest day in April for four years, peaking at 25°C.

Longer periods of natural light increases the rate of photosynthesis which means the plants produce more sugars, making the strawberries sweeter and more juicy.

Mr Myatt added: “This winter has been a bit milder which means more bee colonies have survived and are able to pollinate the strawberry blossoms, and enable the fruits to flower and grow into plump strawberries.”

He has 150 acres at his farm on Decoy Hill Road and produces around 200 tonnes of strawberries every year. He has been running the farm for 20 years and is the fourth generation of strawberry growers in his family.

Mr Myatt’s farm has just come to the end of the rhubarb season and also produces asparagus, plums, blackberries and raspberries.

In the last five years, British strawberry production has increased by 36%. Climate controlled glasshouses mean the British strawberries are avaliable from March to December – 25 years ago the season was just six weeks long.