MP David Warburton opened a series of ‘Pick Your Own’ weekends last Friday at West Bradley Orchards in the heart of Somerset. Kickstarting a season of three weekends, people can now visit the beautiful orchards to pick their own apples and pears in the remaining weekends of September.
West Bradley is one of the few orchards in the West of England to offer the unique opportunity to visit a working apple farm and select your own produce.
David Warburton MP, Member of Parliament for Somerton and Frome, said at the opening: “Once again it really was fabulous to visit West Bradley Orchards and be able to launch this year’s very busy Pick Your Own season. It’s always such a great occasion and I’d highly recommend it for a taste of the great outdoors, a lot of fun and a bit of a taste of the best fruit around too! Again, I’ve been stunned by the great work that goes on at the Orchards – their scientific approach combined with overwhelming energy and enthusiasm. As ever, the apples are perfect! I couldn’t recommend it more for a fantastic family visit.”
The Clifton-Brown family, owners of West Bradley Orchards, invite visitors to bring a picnic, take a walk through the orchards, press apples to make fresh juice and enjoy a family day out. There is a fantastic selection of over 15 eating and cooking apples to choose from and three delicious pear varieties, plus honey from eight bee hives kept on the farm.
Edward Clifton-Brown, who has been running the orchards for 30 years, said: “We’re delighted with this year’s crop. Despite a tough frost earlier in the year which resulted in less fruit the quality is unaffected, in fact for a lot of our varieties it’s the best ever! We’ve got some super varieties to pick from, including bright red Lord Lambourne apples, juicy Russets and ever-popular Cox’s, plus Comice and Concord pears. The apple press proved incredibly popular last weekend and many of our visitors left with bottles of freshly pressed juice. We look forward to welcoming more visitors for the remaining weekends as the apples finish ripening on the trees.”
West Bradley Orchards’ Pick Your Own is open on the following dates:
Friday 22 – Sunday 24 September – 10am to 5pm
Friday 29 September – Sunday 1 October – 10am to 5pm
What’s On:
- Visitors can take a tour of the orchards on our state-of-the-art tractor
- A milling press will be available on site for those who wish to turn their apples into juice (bottles can be purchased on site)
- Our Bee Keeper has nine 9 hives at the farm and his honey is for sale
- West Bradley Orchards is home to Orchard Pig Cider and Apple juice, which will be available to purchase on site
- Hardwood apple logs will also be on sale
- All apples and pears are charged at £1.50 per kilo, cash and cards are accepted
- Entry to the farm is FREE and car parking is available.
One of only three dessert apple orchards in Somerset and spread over 70 acres, West Bradley Orchards has been growing apples commercially for over a century and sells cider apples, dessert apples, pears and walnuts. The orchard is also home to well-known cider brand Orchard Pig, whose headquarters are located on the farm.
For further details visit www.westbradleyorchards.com.