Orchards, Trees & Orchard ProduceGloucestershire information
Orchards, Trees & Orchard Produce
Gloucestershire information
The Gloucestershire Orchard Group, Ann Smith, Secretary, 109 Orchard Way, Churchdown, Gloucester GL3 2AP +44(0)1452 855677. You can e-mail them at smithcovell [at] btinternet.com, or visit their web-site. The group has begun a survey of orchards in the county. They have an apple press available for members to rent, particularly useful for Apple Day events. Contact them for forthcoming orchard skills courses.
Gloucester County Council - The Charles Martell Collection has been kindly donated to GCC to form Gloucestershire County Fruit Trees. For more information see the GCC web-site. Alan Watson, Arboriculture Officer, The Malthouse, Standish, GL10 3DL +44(0)1453 794920.
Sarah Juniper runs Apple Factor, offering apple displays, fruit trees, grafting demonstrations etc. See Sarah's web-site.
'Perry Pears', edited by Luckwill & Pollard, is a wonderful source of material about the many perry pears. Gloucestershire's varieties are admirably covered in the chapters by Ray Williams. Seek it out in second hand bookshops.
Orchards and Community Orchards
Churchdown Park Community Orchard, Churchdown Park, Parton Road, Churchdown, Gloucester. A small orchard of twenty Gloucestershire apple, perry pear and plum trees planted in 2003 in Churchdown Park, Gloucester, a recreational area and former allotments. The joint community project involves Churchdown Parish Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council, local residents and seven local schools with help from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV). The land is leased by Churchdown Parish Council from Gloucester City and Cheltenham Borough Councils who are joint owners. The trees are on vigorous rootstocks and planted 15m apart. Varieties, mostly from Gloucestershire, include the perry pears: Blakeney Red, Moorcroft and Jenkins Red; the plum Blaisden Red; and apples: Ashmeads Kernel, Royal Turk, Gloucester Royal, Hunts Duke of Gloucester, Taynton Codlin, Lemon Pippin of Gloucestershire, Gilliflower of Gloucester, Corse Hill, Gloucestershire Underleaf, Severn Bank, Lakes Kernel and Tewkesbury Baron.A mulberry was also planted. Before the orchard was planted there were some pyramidal orchids and meadow flowers plus voles and foxes. The group hope to encourage more wildflowers and animals including lichens and invertebrates associated with dead wood. Deadwood piles have been created, and some areas of long grass, nettles and brambles are left. It is managed mainly by two local residents, Ann and Stuart Smith and mowed by a small company. The Parish Council have been given a guided tour, and an Apple Day and tasting days are planned linking in with Gloucestershire Orchard Group. Access is currently restricted by a chainlink fence while the trees are still young. Contact: Ann Smith, 109 Orchard Way, Churchdown Park, Gloucester GL3 2AP, +44(0)1452 855677, smithcovell[at]btinternet.com
Clock Tower Community Orchard, Clock Tower Park, Coney Hill, Gloucester. A traditional Gloucestershire orchard was begin in the winter of 2005/6, containing Gloucestershire varieties of apple and perry pear. Accessible from Bittern Avenue,West Lodge Drive and Blake Hill Way. Contact: Matthew Hill of Gloucester City Council matthew.hill[at]gloucester.gov.uk
Daffurns Orchard, Kemerton, Tewksbury. An old orchard on the Kemerton Estate owned by the Darby family. Much of the land is managed to increase biodiversity and an estate-wide Countryside Stewardship agreement was entered into in 2000. A full time conservation officer has been employed to manage habitats and monitor wild life. The Trust also seeks to acquire threatened habitats outside the estate and co-ordinated the purchase of the orchard in Kemerton village in around 2000. Funds were raised from the generosity of villagers. Daffurns Orchard is now jointly maintained through a committee of local people and representatives of the Kemerton Conservation Trust. Around Apple Day 2003, an apple juicing day was held in the orchard, and its success lead the Trust to organise an orchard restoration day with Worcestershire Orchard Workers in January 2004. Around 35 people attended guided by John Edgley of Pershore College. John returned in the summer to give lessons in pruning plum trees. It was clear that pruning of the old trees needed to be done over several years so Kemerton Orchard Workers formed in 2004 and raised funds to buy pruning tools, safety equipment and to get training in first aid and health and safety. A small area around a seat is kept mown as an area for quiet reflection. Woodpiles have been made from some of the trees that fell in a gale in 2003. The area was fenced off to make it stockproof and sheep grazing began in 2003. Some of the apple trees were identified by the Marcher Apple Network and include Belle de Boskoop, Bramley, James Grieve and Worcester Pearmain. An ancient perry pear tree at the entrance is thought to be Barland. The orchard continues to sustain a wide range of wild life including an over-wintering black cap. In the spring of 2004 local residents found that a pair of green woodpeckers had enlarged a former nest-hole of a Great Spotted Woodpecker for their own use. 32 species of lichen were recorded on the trees, with one tree home to 13 species. The Trust also own two more old orchards, Wells Orchard in Kinsham and The Lillians Orchard in Kemerton. Contact: Adrian Derby,Kemerton Conservation Trust on +44(0)1386 725254, ad @kemerton.com or see www.kemerton.org
Ebley Linear Community Orchard, nr Stroud. This linear orchard was planted on Apple Day in 1994, it is the first orchard alongside an ex-railway line, which is now a cycle track. Seventy standard trees along half a mile or so of the track have been planted. Each of the trees has an information board giving its name, date of origin and uses of the fruit. Varieties including Gloucester Underleaf, Ashmead’s Kernel and Gillyflower of Gloucester will be available for picking by passing cyclists. Contact: Richard Fawcett, Senior Landscape Planner, Gloucestershire County Council, Shire Hall, Gloucester, GL1 2TN, +44(0)1452 425679.
Green Farm Orchard, off Sims Lane, Quedgeley, south of Gloucester (Grid ref: SO810153). An old orchard of 2ha that was part of the Green Farm Estate, which was developed for housing leaving just the orchard. It has long been farmed, with Medieval ridge and furrow still visible in the orchard. Gloucester City Council, the landowners, in consultation with English Nature (now Natural England) designated the orchard a Local Nature Reserve. The orchard has apple, pear, plum, prune and damsons with additional trees were planted in the late 1990s retaining the open aspect of the orchard. Volunteers from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers helped clear undergrowth and prune the trees. English Nature Funding allowed an urban Wildspace officer to encourage community involvement and help to set up a Friends Group. Gloucestershire Orchards Group joins with Apple Day each year and has given pruning demonstrations in the orchard. Two small seasonal ponds, piles of deadwood, a mixed rough hedgerow, grassland and some retained scrub offer various habitats for wild life. Hay is cut once a year in July/August. The older trees attract woodpeckers, and bird boxes have been erected. The flora already recorded includes Lesser Water Parsnip, Trifid Bur-Marigold, Yellow-wort, Tor Grass, Rough hawkbit, Corky Fruited Water Dropwort, Yellow Rattle and Smooth Tare as well as more common wildflowers. Many bird species including Greenfinch and Goldfinch have been seen. The ponds attract damselflies, dragonflies and newts as well as lesser Water Parsnip, Water Mint and Common Water-plantain. There is full public access. A circular path runs around the orchard with four entrances is also part of the canal-side path that runs through Quedgeley and acts as a cycleway. The local community is encouraged to pick and use the fruit, and several local families harvest crab apples and damsons for jam making. Contact: Jane Cox, Urban Greenspace Officer, Gloucester City Council, Herbert warehouse, The Docks, Gloucester GL1 2EQ, +44(0)1452 396977, janec[at]gloucester.gov.uk
Gwen & Vera’s Field, Shaw Common, 2 miles west of Newent on the road from Oxenhall to Kempley Green (Grid ref: SO696277). A Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust reserve of 0.7 acres, donated to the trust in 1987 to safeguard the wild daffodils distinctive to the area. Two small orchards, long and narrow run alongside the road, plus mature cherry trees on the boundary with Greenways Wood, which also has wild daffodils. One of the orchard is old with three very old perry pear trees, one dessert pear, 8 apple trees and one young plum. The varieties identified so include: Red Longdon perry pear, Ellison's Orange, Bramley Seedling, Tydeman's Early Worcester, and perhaps Lord Lambourne, Monarch and Bismark, the pears Conference, Rock, Red Longdon and Thorn, and unknown varieties of plums. Two apple trees host a lot of mistletoe. The second orchard was planted in 2002 with five pear and some more apple trees of Gloucestershire varieties, with help from children from the Local Wildlife Watch group. Varieties include Gillyflower of Gloucester, Gloucester Underleaf, Corse Hill, Dymock Red, Rock Kernel, Hunt’s Duke of Gloucester, Flower of the West, Blood Royal, Tewkesbury Baron and Severn Bank. The trees were chosen with the help of the Gloucestershire Orchard Group to support rare local varieties. The Wildlife Trust manage the orchard as a nature reserve with the help of a voluntary management committee, practical volunteers and Gloucestershire Orchard Group. The meadows are cut annually in late summer and the grass removed. Occasionally sheep graze the aftermath but it has proved difficult to find a permanent grazier. Hedges are flailed to keep the fields light and the woodland edge is cut as necessary. As well as daffodils there are snowdrops, meadow saffron, wood anemone, wood avens, cowslip, knapweed, oxeye daisy, perforate st John’s wort, angelica, and meadowsweet. Nuthatches, Chiffchaffs, Bullfinches, Blackcaps and Jays are seen in the orchards. There is no access from January to April to prevent damage to the wild daffodils but there is an annual daffodil walk to the Orchard in the second weekend of March, which includes tea and cake in the nearby Oxenhall Village Hall. Contact: Tom Burditt, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Robinswood Hill Country Park, Reservoir Road, Gloucester GL4 6SX, +44(0)1452 383333, Tom.Burditt[at]gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk or see www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk
Holywell Orchard, off St George’s Road, Holywell Road and Bramble Drive, Norman Hill, Cam. A 2 acre greenspace shown as an orchard on an 1888 map. Some of the older residents of Cam remember it as an orchard until the 1960’s. Two residents of Cam and Dursley grew up in a cottage on the site although the cottage no longer exists. In 2005 Gloucester Royal apples from Dursley, Berkeley Pippin, Gloucestershire Underleaf, Morgan Sweet and other Gloucestershire varieties of apples and pears were planted at the orchard. Brandy pear and Thorn pear trees were also planted, Gloucestershire varieties bearing small fruit very similar to the two pear trees remaining from the original orchard. Half of the orchard is being restored, leaving the remainder for wildlife. 16 trees were planted in total. The orchard is owned by Stroud District Council who asked Stroud Valleys Project to manage it. Apple Day has been celebrated. The orchard has full open access. Contact: Tony Metcalfe or Deb Coleman, Stroud Valleys Project, 8 Threadneedle Street, Stroud GL5 1AF, +44(0)1453 753358, info[at]stroudvalleysproject.org
Moat Community Orchard. Moat Primary School with extensive grounds sloping down Robinswood Hill. The idea for the orchard came from a meeting about how to improve out of school activities, and how New Opportunities Funding might be sought for such a project. In the winter of 2003 / 04 100 fruit trees were planted including many Gloucestershire varieties, and some rootstock onto which new varieties can be grafted at a later date. Gloucestershire County Council Arboriculturalist helped draw up plans. Planting involved school children and their parents, teacher and members of the community. After planting, the headteacher Roger Higgs discovered on a 1799 tithe map that the school was built partly on the site of "Orchard at Matson". Contact: Roger Higgs, Headteacher, Moat Primary School, +44(0)1452 520502.
Redland Green Community Orchard in Bristol is always in need of volunteers to get involved in the project, by helping with weeding, digging, pruning, improving access, writing a newsletter and picking the fruit. The hope is that the harvest will be shared among those who have worked on the project, with any surplus being sold to raise funds for its continued development. They are trying to include many old varieties and ones local to the South West, and are also planting 'edible hedgerows' comprising berries, currants, and nuts. Contact Michael Davis on +44(0)117 904 6198 for more information, or to offer help.
Staunton & Corse School Orchard, Staunton. The first trees of this new orchard were planted in the grounds of the new school on Apple Day in 1995. The school hope that in future they can recreate the blossom and shade they enjoyed from the fruit trees in the grounds of the old school, which were left behind when they moved premises. A variety of apples from Gloucestershire and the West Country are to be planted. The project was supported by Gloucestershire County Council and a sponsorship scheme was also initiated to augment this grant. Contact: Keith Turner, Red House, Pillows Green, Staunton, Glos, GL19 3NU.
Orchard restoration work is being carried out at Moreton Vallance, Framilode, Arlingham and Nailsworth (behind the Jovial Foresters pub) by the Stroud Valleys Project. Contact: +44(0)1453 753358 or see www.stroudvalleysproject.org
Stroud Schools . On Apple Day 2000 enough money was raised for 50 trees to be grafted which were given to local schools in Stroud.
Whiteshill and Ruscombe Community Orchard, Whiteshill Playing Field. A small orchard planted in 2005 on an unused part of a playing field by Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish Council with help from children from Whiteshill Primary School. Half standard apple pear and plum trees of Gloucestershire varieties were planted. On a bank above the orchard there were already a good variety of orchids present and other calcareous grassland plants. The grass in the orchard is mown once or twice a year with some areas mown only in Autumn after the grasses have flowered and seeded. There is full access. Contact: Rebecca Charley, Ruscombe, Stroud GL6 6EG, charleyspyvee[at]btinternet.com
The specialist landscape architecture practice Reckless Orchard have exhibited an orchard garden at Westonbirt International Festival of Gardens. See the web-sites for Reckless Orchard and the Festival of Gardens.
Where to buy apples and orchard produce
Brook Apple Farm Cider & Perry, 24 Rendcomb, Cirencester, GL7 7HF +44(0)1258 831479.
Days Cottage Apple Juice, Days Cottage, Upton Lane, Brookthorpe GL4 0UT +44(0)1452 813602.
'Enjoy Fine Food & Drink in Gloucestershire' from Taste of the West. Call +44(0)1392 440745 or visit their web-site.
'Forest Food Directory' available from Kate de Selincourt, The Woodlands, Whitecroft, Glos GL15 4PL.
'Gloucestershire Wholesale Food & Drink Directory' from the Link Group +44(0)1452 524488.
Harechurch Cider, White Lodge, Springfields, Drybrook GL17 9BW +44(0)1594 541738. Cider & Perry made by the Bursons family for five generations, using traditional press and oak cases.
Hartland Farmhouse Cider & Perry, Tirley Villa, Tirley GL19 4HA, +44(0)1452 780480.
Hayles Fruit Farm, Winchcombe, sell around 15 apple varieties, plus pears, plums from their own orchards, plus cobnuts, apple and pear juice and cider. Call +44(0)1242 603320 or see their web-site.
'Local Food Directory', South Gloucestershire Council +44(0)1454 863552.
Longborough Fruit Farm, Manor Farm, Longborough, Moreton-in-Marsh sell around 40 varieties of apple plus pears and plums grown in their own orchards a mile from the shop, +44(0)1451 830469 or see their website
Minchew's Real Cider & Perry, Rose Cottage, Aston Cross, Tewkesbury GL20 8HX, +44(0)1684 773427.
The Miners Arms in Whitecroft, Gloucester. Chosen by CAMRA as the BEST PUB IN BRITAIN FOR CIDER AND PERRY in their Good Cider Guide published in 2005. This is the first time this award has been made to a pub. The judges were impresssed that "the Miners Arms regularly offers three real ciders, all served on handpump. These were tasted, and served in excellent condition and at the right temperature by friendly, welcoming staff who made you feel at home straight away. The pub feels like the heart and soul of the village and attracts all age groups".
Prinknash Abbey, Cranham, produce apple juice, cider and perry from the estate orchards, sold in the estate shop. See their web-site.
Ragman's Lane Apple Juice, Ragman’s Lane Farm, Lydbrook, GL17 9PA, +44(0)1594 860244. A 60 acre farm in the Forest of Dean run on permaculture principles that is primarily about educating and employing people to work the land sustainably, giving them the opportunity to 'learn on the job', as well as producing wholesome food for local markets. The Apple Juice is made from unsprayed fruit from orchards in the Forest of Dean and Herefordshire, apples picked by hand - by picking and paying well for apples from traditional orchards Ragman’s hope to help preserve these precious features in the landscape. The juice is sold through farmers' markets and shops in Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. See website for details. Also run courses and weekends such as the cider and apple juice weekend in October.
Orchards Cider & Perry Co., Yewgreen Farm, nr Brockweir, Chepstow. +44(0)1291 689536. Keith Orchard makes cider and perry from cider apples and perry pears. Yewgreen Farm has a traditional standard orchard and Keith has recently planted more standards of rare Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire varieties. Apples are also sourced from standard orchards in Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire. Orchard’s cider and Perry Co has won awards at the Bath & West Show, Three Counties Show and elsewhere, and was the first maker in Gloucestershire to be awarded with “Protection of Geographical Indication Certificate of Conformity” by Herefordshire Environmental Health & Trading Standards Service for Gloucestershire Perry, Gloucestershire Dry, Medium and Sweet Cider. The cider and perry is sold locally in restaurants, pubs, and shops including the Village Shop in Brockweir, which stocks local produce and is run by volunteers from teh village. Visits to Yewgreen Farm by appointment only.
Heg Peg Dump - suet pudding filled with apples and plums or damsons. Traditionally served on St Margarets Day (July 20) and originally contained wild plums.
Gloucestershire Squab Pie - lamb, apple, onion and spices covered with a pastry crust.
Rob Watkins of Lodge Farm Trees can now supply a wide range of Gloucestershire varieties, with the help of GOG. Call +44 (0)1454 260310 or visit the Lodge Farm web-site.
Dave Kaspar, chairman of the Gloucestershire Orchard Group, sells a range of Gloucestershire varieties, as well as organic cider and perry, +44 (0)1452 813602.
Highfield Nurseries, Whitminster, Glos GL2 7PL - Over 30 varieties of apple, some on standard rootstocks and pears, +44(0)1452 741444
