01/09/2026
Here are some pictures of our orchards, taken just over a week ago, before we had any rain. They’re stunning images in their own right, but they also show just how remarkably resilient trees can be compared with grass and grain crops. Brown, shrivelled grass sits beneath lush, green trees.
Trees are able to draw water from much further down in the soil, where there’s usually still moisture to be found, even after the exceptionally dry summer we’ve had.
Our yield will still be down this year, partly as a result of the drought, but also because apple trees are naturally biennial. Last year was a bumper crop, which is often followed by a significantly smaller one the following year.
Luckily, we have plenty of cider in the tanks. Cider making and orchards work on a timescale of years rather than individual seasons, so last year’s plenty is helping to make up for this year’s shortfall.
