Mistletoe - bah, humbug!

It’s fair to say that mistletoe is not our favourite thing.  Not at this time of year or indeed any time of year.  

Round here there are lots of neglected orchards that seem to specialise in growing it; the trees are in a sorry state and produce only meagre crops of apples. In time this parasite will kill the trees.

We have an invasion of mistletoe in one of our older orchards and we are puzzling about what to do about it - some of the trees will have to come right out while others will need radical pruning if they are to survive.

We have mistletoe harvesters in the orchard right now and really all they are doing is coppicing the stuff and making things worse.  If you cut the plant off you just encourage its growth elsewhere. 

And what’s more they claim they can hardly give it away.  Varieties of mistletoe vary in colour of leaves and berries and the less desirable versions with yellowy leaves and creamy berries - like ours - are not as sought after as the ones with glossy green leaves and bright white berries, some of which are imported.

The National Trust has a new campaign to encourage people to buy locally sourced mistletoe and also to plant mistletoe seeds on their apple trees.  With the demise of traditional orchards they believe that the plant is in danger of dying out and needs to be saved.

Mistletoe does in fact provide a habitat for several endangered species, such as the Mistletoe Marble Moth so if you have a tree that is so swamped that it is no longer viable for producing fruit you might feel better in the knowledge that it may be supporting these species.

Otherwise you should be managing your mistletoe’s progress with bold measures and a pruning saw.

Apple pomace

When we press the apples we end up with delicious juice and a whole lot of bits - pips, apple skins, bits of the core.  It turns out there are lots of things to be done with it to use up all the remaining goodness and encourage sustainability.

Robert Snook farms a suckler herd of Hereford beef cattle near Castle Cary, Somerset.  His wife, Sally, also runs a Bed & Breakfast business http://www.clanvillemanor.co.uk/ from their beautiful Georgian farmhouse in which she serves Orchard Pig apple juice.

This winter the farm will also be serving Orchard Ground Force apple pomace to guests, but the guests will have four legs instead of two!

Robert explains “In mid July this year, when there had been so little rain, we knew that the price of food for our cattle was going to go up.  We had no silage, no grass to cut for the second or third cut, and when someone mentioned that Orchard Ground Force had apple pomace we thought we would consider it.  It’s not that unusual - plenty of people have used it - but it was new for us.”

The pomace is rich in vitamins and roughage.  Robert stores it in a big heap in the yard.

“There’s a heat element in the pomace so most of the time we don’t cover it, because we don’t want it to break down and ferment.  But we also don’t want it too dry because the cattle don’t like it if it’s too dry.  We don’t have a roof for it, which would make it simpler, so we are just covering it with plastic sheeting when it rains a lot.”

“It’s basically carbohydrate and we balance it with a protein based product.  The cows really like it - you’d probably like it too, it smells lovely!  They push each other about to get to it and it means the grass lasts longer so they can stay outside longer.”

There is no doubt that the cows and calves consider the pomace a gourmet delight - even Robert’s beautiful Limousin bull Adam couldn’t wait to get at it.

Apple pomace is also on the menu for the Gloucester Old Spots that give Orchard Pig its name, and experiments are taking place with feeding it to the game birds on a local shoot.  The pips encourage the natural scratching behaviour of the birds.

Back at West Bradley Orchards the pomace is mixed with woodchips from the apple tree prunings and basalt dust is added - a waste product from a local quarry.  The basalt dust contains essential minerals and has long been used in Australia in the wine industry to retain moisture in the soil.  The mixture is composted for at least six weeks and then used as a mulch around the base of the new trees later in the year.

Harvest 2010 part II

We have finished picking all our Jonagolds, so that’s the last lot of juice apples picked through, (just made it before the starlings!) and we have now finished the cider apple harvest at West Bradley too. We’re slightly ahead of time at West Bradley because it was not a bumper crop this year.  The fruit was a little slow to fall which is good because it made up some of the size it lost earlier in the year, but without really cold weather the crop stays on the trees and it makes harvesting more time consuming.

We have finished all the juice pressing and bottling - we try to get the apples off the tree and into the bottle inside 48 hours - and we are well ahead with the cider pressing.  We still have about another 20,000 litres of cider to make at West Bradley but the quality has been spectacular and we are really pleased.

Harvest 2010

How lucky we’ve been with such a dry start to the autumn.  It’s our favourite time of year and it has been beautiful.  Dry warm days and the handpickers are racing to keep ahead of the starlings!  At this time of year huge flocks of the birds form and they love the fruit as it starts to get soft and a little overripe.  They have been known to descend en masse and devour an entire crop.

The cider crop is looking good and with the dry weather all the work is getting done with the minimum of mess - a boon for pickers and processing alike.

Crop wise we are definitely down in volume.  Sugar levels are up, as we predicted and the quality and ph levels are fine.

At this time of year we also like to see what kind of one year extension growth we have managed to achieve, because that is the future of our crop.  The one year growth is looking reasonable.  We probably left a little bit too much fruit on the younger trees, which hasn’t given us quite as much growth as we would have liked, but we’re hoping to put on a bit of a spurt in the spring.

We’re going to be experimenting with putting more nutrient on a little earlier in the season.  We had a bit more scab than we would have liked, which is probably us being mean with the spraying, and we have a little bit of codling moth damage on the dessert fruit, but not anything excessive and no problem for juicing.

We have sent off our scab leaf samples for analysis and when we get the results back in a couple of weeks we will decide on our actions.  Some people kill off all the leaves with a very heavy spraying regime, but we would prefer not to do that.  Old traditional orchardmen put sheep into the orchards to eat all the leaves so there would be no carry over of spores to the next year.  Depending on the results of the analysis we might do a little judicious spraying with copper - a little spraying, with a natural product, at the right time, can save you a fortune later.

SWECA

The South West of England Cidermakers’ Association (SWECA) held its six monthly meeting last week.  Hosts were John and Martin Thatcher at the family farm at Sandford, Somerset.

SWECA is a group dedicated to supporting the needs of cider makers, apple growers and enthusiasts in the South West region.  Its objective is to link with NACM on behalf of the cider industry, and to promote the interests of those engaged in the region’s cider making industry.

About 50 people attended last week’s meeting at Thatcher’s and were fascinated to hear what the company has been up to recently.  John and Martin Thatcher have invested heavily in new plant this year - an expression of confidence in the future of the industry.  

They discussed the new harvesting machinery they have acquired to harvest cider apples with a shake-and-catch technique which minimises bruising and improves cold storage times.

John Thatcher is regarded as a great mentor for all in the cider business, tremendously enthusiastic and forward looking.  “He is ahead of all of us!” said Orchard Ground Force's Neil Macdonald.

Group members shared their outlook for this year’s crop, with Devon predicting a 100% crop, Somerset 80% and Hereford 120%.  Everyone expressed optimism in the growth of the cider market - 6% over the last twelve months - with similar predictions for the growth of the apple juice market.

Perry pears have had a good year, with the market looking robust.

SWECA welcomes new members who are fruit growers, cider makers or enthusiasts.  For more details contact Bob Chaplin on 01749 334007 or email bob.chaplin@gaymercider.eu.com 

Stream Farm

We are very pleased to be bottling the first apple crop from Stream Farm in the Quantock Hills, Somerset.  The juice is a blend of Red Windsor, Bramley, Red Devil, Egremont Russet and Red Falstaff. 

Stream Farm is an 250 acre organic farm with an interesting vision - its owners have started several farming businesses on their land with the intention of handing each one on once it is profitable to farmers who see things as they do. 

Henrietta and James bought Stream Farm lock, stock and barrel in 2002. It had a small herd of 28 Dexter Cattle and a small flock of 26 Hampshire Down sheep. They have increased the herd to 200 and the flock to about 300. 

They sell their award winning produce online and at Food Festivals and Farmers’ Markets. Thus far they sell organic beef, chicken, lamb, pork, mutton, and stream fed, line caught trout.  For more information see the website at www.streamfarm.co.uk

If you have apples that you would like pressed and bottled do get in touch with us.

Appropriate clothing

We have lots of schools visiting our orchard (see School visits tab) and we always remind them to wear the right clothes for the outdoors, and particularly the right footwear.

We were delighted to see that Wells Cathedral School took us very seriously!

Apple Scrumping Day 2

It was a beautiful sunny day and we had an overflowing car park by 11.00 in the morning.  Everyone worked flat out all day chopping and squishing and pressing to turn the apples people picked in the orchard into juice to take home.  Huge thanks are due to Camilla and Amanda from Vigo who brought along one of their fruit presses and a big yellow muncher cruncher to chop up the fruit.  
Anyone who has more fruit than they can eat should certainly think about turning it into juice and a small Vigo press would really come in handy.  See www.vigopresses.co.uk or telephone 01404 892101.
We had such a lot of fun and the general public worked hard too, lots of dads and kids taking turns at the presses.  Thanks to Jasmine for the bacon butties, and to Fergus (not quite 7) who was her right hand man.

We're definitely up for it again next year.

Apple Scrumping Day

We’re doing something new on Sunday 12 September.  We’ll be offering to turn the apples people pick at the PYO into juice, bottle it and even give the bottles personalised labels.


Vigo, who provide us with equipment, are coming along to help and bringing some extra kit.  We’ll be chopping up the apples, pressing them for juice and pasteurising the bottles so the juice keeps.  So much easier than storing the apples for winter in the attic, and so much more fun to be able to offer your guests your own juice!


People can even make up their own blends from the fruit in the orchard - we have fifteen different kinds of apple to choose from and four different varieties of pear.


The sun is supposed to shine, and we’ll have a barbeque for hungry customers.


We look forward to seeing you all - West Bradley Orchards, 10.00 - 5.00 Sunday 12 September.

First PYO weekend of 2010 a success

Lots of people came to West Bradley for the first weekend this year of Pick Your Own.  The weather stayed sunny - more or less - and the fruit is looking really good.  People were filling wheelbarrows with apples and pears.  Many were intending to store the fruit until needed, and some said that their eyes were just bigger than their brains!  It is wonderful to see a whole orchard bursting with ripe fruit, each one a beauty.


Pick Your Own will continue on each weekend throughout September. All apples and pears are £1.10 per kilo. 


The harvest begins next week with our own pickers coming in during the week, and then it's absolutely full-on until Christmas.

Pick Your Own at West Bradley

Neil, Arthur & Fergus Macdonald - Juicemasters!

West Bradley Orchards is opening on each weekend in September for Pick Your Own.


West Bradley Orchards is one of the few orchards left in Somerset producing dessert fruit. The public is welcome to come on any of the weekends in September to pick apples and pears before the full harvest starts. All apples and pears are £1.10 per kilo.


There are fifteen varieties of apple to pick at West Bradley.  These include Cox, Bramley, Kidd’s Orange, Charles Ross, Jonagold, Russet, as well as four different varieties of pears.  Some of the first apples to mature are the delicious Worcester Pearmains with their strawberry-like flavours. They are highly sought after and will be ready in time for the first weekend in September.


APPLE SCRUMPING DAY


This year brings a brand new event - Apple Scrumping Day - on Sunday 12 September. 

Neil Macdonald of Orchard Ground Force, which manages the orchards, said “For the first time we are going to be making juice for people from the fruit they pick.  It’s a great way to store the goodness of freshly picked apples and pears, and you can see exactly what goes into the bottle.”


“It takes one kilo of apples to make one bottle of juice - and when you consider that two Bramleys can weigh a kilo it won’t take long to pick the fruit!”


“You can choose the apples that go into your juice - either a single variety or a blend of different varieties.  For a small charge we will juice the fruit for you, (or you can do it yourself), bottle it, pasteurise it quickly so it keeps, and you can even have your own personal label!”


Neil’s young children, Arthur and Fergus, are masters of the technique of making juice, but it is simple enough for even adults to get the hang of it!


After a very dry spring and summer the recent rains have been extremely welcome. 


Said Neil Macdonald “The dry sunny weather has given the fruit lots of flavour and sweetness and now the rains are coming at exactly the right moment to swell the fruit and make it really juicy.”


The orchards will be open 10.00 - 17.00, Friday to Sunday on each weekend in September.  Free entrance and parking.  Bags and containers provided.


West Bradley Orchards, West Bradley, BA6 8LT 
2 miles off the A361 between Shepton Mallet and Glastonbury
Tel: 01458 850 227

Gold at The Great Taste Awards

Neil Macdonald & Andrew Quinlan

The Orchard Pig was delighted to receive three Golds at the Great Taste Awards 2010.  Its Medium Sparkling Cider, Apple Juice and Ginger and Sparkling Jonagold Apple Juice were all declared winners in this year’s Awards.

Andrew Quinlan said “ It’s the first time we have won three Golds in one year and we’re absolutely thrilled. The Fine Food Awards are a real benchmark of quality, because each product is tasted by several judges, and Gold Stars are only awarded when everyone is in agreement, so we are honoured to have made the grade once more.”

Neil Macdonald said “It always comes down to the quality of the raw ingredients and we’re improving on that year by year in our orchards.  Our techniques and understanding are getting much better too so its great to see that someone thinks we’re doing it right!”

The Kingfisher Award Scheme 2010

Neil Macdonald, from The Orchard Pig, West Bradley, was one of the judges at this year’s Kingfisher Award Scheme Prize Day, held on 15 July at Home Farm, Curry Rivel, Somerset.


The Kingfisher Award Scheme was launched in Devon in 1992 at the instigation of the late Poet Laureate Ted Hughes and his friends.  This is the third year it has been running in Somerset.


The Scheme links children from Primary Schools with the natural environment through a Field Day, where they visit a farm to explore a wildlife theme.  This year the theme was ‘Orchards’ and the children visited one of the orchards at The National Trust’s Barrington Court.


What they learned on the Field Day about animals and insects and wildlife was then explored in a Project they continued at their schools.


Finally the Projects were judged and awards given.  150 children attended the Award Day and enjoyed a picnic together with entertainment provided by a Storyteller, barn owls and bees. 


The winning school keeps the Kingfisher Award, a beautiful hand-carved kingfisher, for a year, and each child receives a certificate and a badge.  


This year the winner, Sedgemoor Manor Junior School, was also invited to bring the entire year group to the orchard managed by The Orchard Pig at West Bradley.


Runners-up, High Ham Primary School, received a cheque for the school and an apple tree to plant.


Neil Macdonald said “We simply could not believe the quality of the work the children produced.  The standard was exceptional and as judges we had our work cut out making a choice.”


Sedgemoor Manor Junior School created huge painted insects for their Project.  They sprawled across the floor and were an object of fascination to everybody.  


Said Jim Gillard, Head of Year 3, “Lots of the children don’t get out into the countryside much.  We wanted them to see what is on their doorstep.”


The children also enticed the judges with their home made smoothies, made from yoghourt and orchard fruits.


The judges were Dennis Silk, ex-teacher and Somerset cricketer, Neil Macdonald from The Orchard Pig, Henry Lang, farmer, Kate Merry from The National Trust,  and Michael Brown, founding partner of Brown & Forrest Smokery.


Michael Brown said “It really opens the children’s eyes to so many aspects of wildlife.  This is learning by discovery. Now, whenever they see long grass, they will know what’s underneath it!”

Open Farm Sunday

It was a lovely day for our Open Farm Sunday event and the people who came enjoyed tractor and trailer rides around the orchard and tours of the bottling plant.

Our elderflower pickers had been out since early morning picking the flowers that go into our special Apple Juice infused with Elderflowers.  We put the blossoms into net bags and sink them into our thousand litre vats of apple juice to infuse overnight.

One enthusiastic helper was Fergus Macdonald, age six, seen here helping to put the elderflowers into the big vats.

The fresh aromatic juice is a bestseller for our sister company The Orchard Pig and is a huge success with adults and children alike.

Open Farm Sunday 13 June

Come and meet us!
We are going to be opening the orchards as part of Open Farm Sunday on 13 June 2010.
Open Farm Sunday is an annual event that gives everyone the opportunity to meet the people who grow their food and care for the countryside. Organised by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), it takes place across the country on one Sunday in June.
Come and tour our orchards, find out about how we grow our fruit and how we make it into award winning apple juice and cider.
We'll be open from 10.00 - 4.00 and we very much look forward to meeting you!

The Kingfisher Award scheme

The Kingfisher Award Scheme (KAS) has been involving Primary Schools in their local environment since it was first launched in Devon at the instigation of the late poet laureate Ted Hughes and friends in 1992.  The Somerset project is run by Michael Brown and his wife Utta.


The objective is to provide children with an opportunity to go onto farms to explore the natural world and and discover the relationship between food, farming and wildlife.


Children come with their entire class for one session in early June. This year the sessions will be held at the National Trust's Barrington Court property from Tuesday 4 June to Friday 11 June. The children explore a variety of topics on the subject of orchards and wildlife and then return to their schools to create a project over the following weeks.


Neil Macdonald from Orchard Groundforce will be a tutor on the sessions this year, helping children to build high rise skyscrapers for insects such as beetles and bees, like the one above.


In July a grand final and picnic takes place and the projects are judged, with a prize being awarded to the winning class.

Michael Brown is one of the founders of the Brown & Forrest smokery near Langport, and is seen here with Neil Macdonald inspecting a graft on a tree in the orchard at West Bradley.