Whitehouse Farm Cherries

01/07/2025

https://www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk/news/chard_news/25281287.chard-farm-donate-supplies-catch-russian-bombs-ukraine/

A Cherry farm in Chard that closed down after running for 20 years have donated their wire to Somerset Aid to help catch Russian bombs in Ukraine.

11/03/2025

It is with great sadness that after much consideration, we had to make the decision to grub the cherry orchard. Unfortunately, we were unable to find anyone to continue the business. Having put so much of ourselves into creating the orchard, this has caused us considerable heartache. We ultimately had no choice other than to make this decision to grub the orchard and return the field to grass, as it was when we first bought the farm more than 20 years ago. We would like to reassure everyone that the land will not be developed and will remain farmland for the foreseeable future.

There were a number of reasons why we had to make this decision. These were mainly that, with us retiring and no one to maintain the trees, the orchard would’ve quickly become an unmanageable overgrown mess that would’ve presented further problems down the line. On top of that, much of the infrastructure of the orchard, such as the rain covers and their structures had reached the end of their lifespan and needed to be removed before they deteriorated any further. We considered the fesablity of relocating the cherry trees, but it quickly became clear for many reasons this wasn’t a viable option.

We wish to thank all of you all again for your support.

Whitehouse Farm Cherries

17/10/2024

2024 was our final cherry season.

It is with great sadness that we have decided to retire from growing cherries and to put our house and farm up for sale. Unfortunately, it has most recently become a case of ‘the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’.

From starting this venture in 2003, from planting the orchard to picking our last cherry and with 15 harvests under our belts, the whole experience has been extraordinary.

In the early days, we were told that embarking on such a project would be mad but, with your incredible support, a fairly wild dream came true, growing the freshest and best cherries in Somerset!

Not only have we had such a faithful following from all of you, but we have also been extraordinarily fortunate with the fantastic people from the local community who have worked for and with us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5WCWZ4Hrgc

Over the years, many of you have enquired about the potential life of a cherry tree, to which the answer is “it varies”. Even though a high proportion continue to be in their prime, most unfortunately, the humans tending them are now well past theirs; so we have concluded.

There is still a chance that someone out there might be willing to take on the farm and business before the cherry orchard is otherwise inevitably grubbed over this coming winter. Sadly, if this doesn't happen, 2024 will have been the final cherry harvest here at Whitehouse Farm.

If you would like more information about the farm, please contact [email protected] or Greenslade Taylor Hunt, Chard on 01460 238382.

Thank you once again for all your tremendous support.

Robert, Sophie & Edmund,
Whitehouse Farm Cherries