Fruity silver lining for local fruit lovers

One of the unexpected side-effects of the lockdown for Brogdale Collections has been the problem of finding a home for tonnes of rare and delicious heritage fruits. There are acres of heritage orchards at Brogdale, which grow fruit especially for Brogdale’s events - such as the Cherry Fair, Pear Day and Cider Festival - these give visitors the chance to taste, buy and learn about our nation’s fruits. With these events cancelled, there was a danger this amazing fruit would go to waste. Brogdale has come up with a number of solutions which have resulted in the public having even greater access to these wonderful fruits than before. Including:

• A series of Heritage Orchard Days held in August, September and October which enable visitors to enjoy fruit trails, family activities, tastings and self-guided walks and – for the first time ever – the opportunity to harvest their own heritage fruit.
• Working with local producers and retailers such as Macknade Fine Foods; Sondes Tea Room; Mighty Fine Things and Tiddly Pomme in Brogdale Marketplace – who are able to stock and use these unusual and heritage fruits. All within a two-mile radius of the orchards, so the fruit is extremely fresh too.
• Enabling volunteers from Catching Lives Food Bank and Guide Dogs for the Blind to pick fruit for their charities.

All great news for the people of Kent who love their fruit! For details of Brogdale’s Heritage Orchard Days, visit their website https://www.brogdalecollections.org/product/heritage-orchard-days/