Sadly most of the orchards around the farm had been felled or abandoned by the time the RAF made a vertical survey of Devon in 1946 when the land was needed for greater food production during the war.
In 2010 Keith and Annie Millar had the vision to replant the orchard in the Top Field. Using 23 varieties of Tamar Heritage Apples with fabulous names like Woolbrook Russet, Devonshire Crimson Queen and Pigs Nose there are now over 75 trees thriving.
Orchards are an important habitat for wildlife. We are currently in conversion with the Soil Association to gain our Organic Status. No pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals are used on the farm. With no soil disturbance the unimproved grassland and hedges surrounding the orchard are a haven for wildlife and a variety of plant species.
Working with the Countryside Stewardship Scheme we are encouraging the orchard to grow into a more biodiverse environment supporting a wealth of insects, pollinators and mammals.
Harvest time produces a mass of apples – most of which are pressed and turned into our apple juice, cider apple vinegar and some home brew cider! The apple juice and vinegar can be found for sale in our shop. Any extra apples after the pressing are fed to the goats over the winter or left for nature to consume.
