Over the last twelve years we have planted 1000 apple and pear trees. We have selected old traditional varieties such as Ashmead Kernel, Taynton Codlin, Annie Elizabeth, Worcester Permain, Yellow Ingestrie, Lord Lambourne, Howgate Wonder and Egremont Russet. Others are more modern varieties suitable for organic orchards such as Saturn, Cevaal and Rajka.

Big Blossom orchard blossom comfrey tree

We aim for minimum intervention from tree to table. Most commercial orchards are managed in order to produce blemish free fruit for the table.

On our own orchards we use compost, and comfrey as a foliar spray for fertility. We are also trialling the use of Biofertilisers. Without chemical sprays, the ladybird population explodes and these naturally control greenfly and other bugs that spread viral disease in the orchard. You can read more about this in an article that Matt wrote for the Permaculture Magazine in June 2017

The trees are grown in permanent pasture. This helps to build carbon levels in the soil, and aids long term fertility. Apples are picked by hand.

Watch Matt Dunwell's short talk about how we manage our Orchards here at Ragmans Lane Farm (click here)

  • Cider Making in One Day

    with Matt Dunwell

    2nd October 2020

    Matt has been making Apple juice and Cider for over fifteen years.

    We have planted cider and perry trees over the last 20 years at Ragmans and they are now coming into production - Tom Putt, Brandy Pears, Thorne, Yarlington Mill and Kingston Black - the king of the cider apples.

    In the morning there will be a short introduction to cider making, and we will then set out to pick fruit for an hour or so.

    After a tea break we return to the pressing room and wash the fruit prior to pressing. If we have time we will macerate the fruit before lunch, or if there is demand we can look around our orchard of 1000 apple and pear trees.

    After lunch we will split into two groups and run both the traditional cider press and the modern apple juice press in tandem. This will give everybody a chance to get a hands on experience. We will be using two mills, two different presses, pumps and bottle fillers and pasteurisers.

    At the end of the afternoon there is a chance to try some cider.

    Refreshments provided, please bring a packed lunch.

    Price £90  (including 25 litres of apple juice to turn into cider)

    Booking essential

    To download a booking form click here

    Cheques should be made payable to Ragmans Lane Farm and sent to Ragmans Lane Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Glos, GL17 9PA. For further information, please ring us on 01594 860244

     


    £90.00

    •