Apple Blossom Day - participants

We have just got confirmation of the producers who will be coming to our Apple Blossom Day event on Sunday May 2, and we are starting to get organised for the day.

Famous orchard people Liz Copas and Bob Chaplin will be with us to guide the orchard tours.  We will have tractor rides for everybody (Dads always want to go round twice!), a cider and apple juice bar,  pig roast for the hungry, followed by cream teas for the greedy, and a Treasure Trail for all the family.

Pennard Plants will be there with seeds and plants, and Ashridge Trees with trees.  Ice creams from Mendip Moments, bees and honey from Stuart Holden of Somerset Bee Keepers, and a plant stall and a cake stall from West Bradley Church.

More to be confirmed as we get details.

It's starting to shape up quite nicely!

Apple tree planting time

The UK is sitting under an area of high pressure and we have seen a lot of something rather unusual, namely the SUN!


These cold still days with cloudless blue skies are a welcome change after the last few soggy months and the ground has at last had a chance to dry out.  There's no point in planting trees into wet ground because the sides of the hole set like concrete and the poor little tree's roots have no chance.


We are planting lots of an apple called Falstaff and some more of another variety called Red Windsor.  The maiden trees have been sitting with their roots damp but wrapped in straw since we got them way back in January and they can't wait to get into the ground. 

The earth is really friable and crumbly and in great condition to receive the young trees and give them the best start in life. 

If the weather holds we should have them all in in the next few days.

Somerset Life

We are featured in this month's issue of Somerset Life!

Four pages with some beautiful photographs and an interview with Neil about pruning.