Sheppys cider orchard visit
Returning from a short break in Exmoor, Julia and I visit the Sheppy's cider farm at Bradford on Tone, near Taunton in Somerset. We took a look at 3 adjacent cider and perry orchards, an old one on widely spaced very large trees, a mature orchard of dwarf pyramids trained as centre leader dominant, and a brand new orchard of perry pears on very closely planted dwarf pyramids. Please excuse the tasting of Sheppey's Gold Medal cider.
Well worth a visit of you are down that way, only about 15 minutes from the M5 Wellington turn off, junction 26. Good farm and cider shop (longhorn beef, preserves, local cheese, gifts and all the usual stuff), picnic tables and freedom to walk in a traditional cider orchard, a rare thing nowadays. They also stock Somerset Cider apple brandy from nearby Burrow Hill. Well worth a visit.