Over the last fortnight two orchard competitions have been concluded and prizewinners announced.
In the Journal for 7th August The English Apple Man reported on his experiences of judging the NFU Sponsored Goudhurst & Paddock Wood Orchard Competition. On 12th August the Prizewinning was held at Nigel Bardsley's Rectory Farm, where more than 80 gathered to walk the winning farm before prizewinners received their awards.
On Tuesday 18th August the East Kent Fruit Society (EKFS) held their traditional walk of the Society's Orchard Competition winning orchard at Simon Bray's Monks Farm.
Goudhurst & Paddock Wood NFU - Farm Walk and Prizegiving - Rectory Farm
Always an enjoyable occasion; the NFU sponsored event has a long history, going back more than 70 years. After a welcome from NFU Group secretary Martyn Webber who thanked Avalon Produce Ltd and BASF for their sponsorship of the evening before introduction of Overall Farm Winner Nigel Bardsley. With an excellent turnout, the visitors split into two groups for the walk around Rectory Farm's winning orchards. One group led by Nigel and the second by Farm Manager Paul Hamlyn.
Below: Wonderful views from the Greensand ridge at Rectory Farm
Rectory Farm covers an area of 17 hectares (circa 41 acres) on a south facing aspect with a 3 million gallon reservoir, which is spring fed, and used for irrigation and frost protection. The soil ranges from Greensand at the top of the farm to a Clay Loam at the bottom. Cox (62%) Bramley (12%) Conference Pears (14%) and Braeburn (9%) make up the main varieties with the remaining (3%) including Cameo and Egremont Russet.
Since 1984, 92% of the farm has been replanted. The Rectory Farm sits on the Greensand Ridge which is well known for producing good crops of quality Cox apples.
Below: Nigel Bardsley welcomes fellow growers and industry representatives to Rectory Farm
Below: A very good crop of excellent quality Cox apples was a major contributor to Bardsley Farms winning the Overall Best Farm Award
Below: The foundation for a successful orchard starts with quality trees and this new Cox orchard at Rectory Farm has superb quality young trees
Nigel Bardsley has been cautious in planting Braeburn, but encouraged by the Mariri Red Braeburn with its inherent high colour, he has planted this young Breaburn orchard; the first at Rectory Farm.
Below: The NFU 'Roadshow' wagon was the 'focal point' for Speeches and Presentations
Below: Paul Hamlyn receives the BASF Championship Trophy from Aneeta Gupta - of BASF - and - Nigel Bardsley receives the Norman Collett Trophy from Andy Sadler - Chairman of Sponsors Avalon Produce Ltd (APL)
Below: Mike Butcher and his daughter Gay who won third place in the Overall Farm category receiving their award from Martyn Webber - NFU Group Secretary - and - Giles Cannon receiving the J.A.Prall Trophy for Highest marks in a Single Young Orchard (98/100) from Martyn Webber
Below: Clive Baxter receives the ADAS Trophy for Highest Average marks in Young Orchards from Martyn Webber - and - Richard Brightman (on the right) receives The Lambert & Foster Trophy for Foreman/Employee in charge of Young Orchards Highest Average Marks
Below: Agrii's Colin Bird presents Claire Widdon with the AGRII Trophy for Most Meritorious Entry - and - Clive Baxter & Jonathan Duke receive the Origin Trophy for for Highest Marks Management - Young Orchards
Summary:
Below: Bardsley Farm Manager Paul Hamlyn and assistant Farm manager Adrian Marton with Bardsley Farms Trophies
As one of the four Judges, The English Apple Man had a privileged view of the quality of entries. The standard was very high, with only a point between each of the first four placed in the 'Overall Best Farm' category; with 164, 163, 162 & 161 respectively. The Overall Winner is a prestigious award, much revered by any grower who wins it, but there are many other prizes 'up for grabs'
Bardsley Farms won several awards: BASF Championship Trophy for Overall Winner - E.O.Moss Trophy for Runner Up in entire competition - Dow AgroSciences Trophy for Highest maks in Class 1 - Norman Collett Class 1 Trophy for Highest marks Pest & Diseases Section - FAST Trophy for Class 1 Highest marks Management - Willis Coroon South Ltd Class 1 for second highest mark Class 1- Willis Coroon South Ltd Class 2 (joint) highest marks Class 2.
Following the presentations we all enjoyed a superb selection of refreshments, sponsored by APL and BASF.
Below: Presentation time was followed by supper....
East Kent Fruit Society (EKFS) - Walk of Winning Orchards
Below: Simon Bray (centre in cap) welcomes EKFS Members to his winning orchards
Reviewing the Cox yields, Simon said his Cox achieved 43 tonnes per hectare in 2014, good size helped last year and Simon anticipates circa 38 tonnes per ha in 2015. The winning Cox orchard was planted in 2007 - spacing of 1.2 metres in the row x 3 metre row spacing. Simon told the EKFS members he has not been enticed into growing his trees above 2 metres and requires only a 'one step' picking aid. He has however standardised his rows at 3 metres apart; most hedgerow systems where trees grow to 2.5 - 3 meters high use a row spacing of 3.5 metres. Simon feels this 1.2 x 3 metre spacing gives him an intensive plant without the need for investment in picking platforms. The winning Gala orchard produced 38 tonne per ha in 2014 and 27 tonnes in 2013.
Below: The Winning Cox Orchard - and - The Winning Gala Orchard which also won the Orchard of the Year
As we toured the farm Simon stopped to look at the Amelia - The variety 'Amelia' was named after a young Ilkeston girl, Amelia Bassett who died of kidney cancer in May 2008 and was launched by Marks & Spencer in November 2008, albeit in limited stores until production increases.
Ilkeston M&S and other stores in the region were the first to stock Amelia's Apple!
Amelia's Apple is helping to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.
Marks & Spencer will donate ten per cent from every pack sold to the charity, to help fund the hospital's kidney transplant centre.
Simon anticipates picking Amelia around 1st October. To see more on Amelia's apple visit Journal for 12th November 2010
Below: Simon grows Amelia named after the daughter of an M&S store manager - and - Braeburn in the winning Cox orchard
Below: Bramley at Monks Farm - and - Egremont Russet
Below: Jazz - and - Red Delicious
Simon Bray has been involved in a trial by East Malling Research (EMR) and encouraged to grow clover in the sward between the rows. By mowing alternate rows weekly, the clover in the adjacent rows allows bees access to pollen. Monks farm is the epitome of a well managed farm, Simon may well have won best Cox and Gala Orchard, and Orchard of the Year, but he could (had there been a category) won best of any variety.........however, even the best can have a problem and those 'pesky mice' set out spoil the perfect picture; mice often thrive beneath a straw mulch and in the young Gala orchard evidence of 'mickey mouse' damage could be seen.
Below: this young Gala orchard with clover cultivated below - and - Mice damage to young trees
Harvest time is getting near; 'ready for action' one of Simon Bray's picking train trailers
As harvest nears, speculation on crop potential is at the forefront of growers minds; Simon Bray exudes the quiet confidence of someone who has 'done it all before' and expects to achieve it all again. His Gala Schniga produced 25 tonnes per ha in its 3rd leaf, he expects his Jazz which produced 45 tonnes per ha in 2014 to yield 40 tonnes in 2015. It is difficult to imagine any of the varieties at Monks Farm delivering a 'below par' performance.
Everyone in the top fruit industry respects Simon Bray; Simon has followed in his father's Bob's footsteps becoming one of the top apple growers in Kent, and among the finest in the English apple growing fraternity!
That is all for this week........
Take care
The English Apple Man