Orchard Update - Thinning and Pruning Videos

Inspired by another one of Stephen Hayes timely videos, I thinned the fruit on a couple of heavily cropping cider apple trees today. I wouldn't normally bother thinning fruit on a cider apple tree, mainly because the size of apples is not so important, but there's a real danger that a branch carrying this amount of fruit could break as the apples swell throughout the Summer.

I also took the opportunity to remove unwanted growth from the rootstock which has become a bit of a problem this year for some reason. I will certainly be investing in some of the thin nosed secateurs featured in Stephens video, as I found the thinning was quite difficult with normal Felco's.

For those not particularly interested in orchard work, the Rockingham Forest Cider Hens make a guest appearance in these videos. Fact is, it's very difficult to keep them out of shot....

Last Minute Breaking News...

Local ciders from Rockingham Forest (that's us!) and Jollydale will be available at the Oundle Carnival Beer Festival tomorrow (19th June). There will be around 10 local beers to try too, with live entertainment in the evening, all at the Oundle Rugby Club throughout the day.

Welland Valley Beer Festival - Sunny Delight

Here's a pictorial view of our weekend at the Welland Valley Beer Festival.

Cider & Perry List at the Spread Eagle, Cottingham

Bound for Plymouth? No, Harringworth to Seaton

Gwynt-Y-Ddraig Ciders at the Marquess of Exeter, Lyddington

More Gwynt-Y-Ddraig Ciders and Perry at the White Swan, Harringworth

Double Decker from the Harringworth to Gretton

Tautus Roks at the Talbot, Gretton

Gwynt-Y-Ddraig and a Whin Hill cider at the Talbot, Gretton

Welland Valley Beer Festival - Bring it On!

The ciders and perrys have been delivered, the beers are all tapped and almost ready to go, and a whole bunch of new Bus Stop signs have mysteriously appeared in the village. It must be Welland Valley Beer Festival time again. Here's some last minute....

...Breaking news:

Rain clearing, Saturday looking good for a nice bit of sunshine. The (fictional) Middleton Met Office advise revellers to: 'Wear a hat and drink plenty of fluids...' Naturally!

Our 'man-in-the-know' reports '...all buses fit and ready to tackle the infamous Rockingham - Cottingham hill climb...' before adding 'The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round...' Hmm!

The 2010 vintage Welland Valley Festival Special Cider (6.9%) has been described as '...a bit saucy...', as well as 'clean, fruity, and sweetish'. You have been warned...

Reports of an early morning explosion in the sleepy village of Middleton have been played down by Red Lion licensee Kevin Barby. 'It was just the Beer Talking' was Kevins somewhat 'enigmatic' response. Rumours that the Red Lion will be offering a free 'Beer-Shine Shampoo & Set' with every pint of Wot's Occuring this weekend have been described as '... absolute b*****ks'.

Coming Soon...

...to a pub or festival near you. The abv is a bit speculative at the moment, but we may send some of this to our friends at the Criterion for their forthcoming Somerset Ales, Cider, Perry and Cheese Festival in July. Watch this space...

Welland Valley Beer Festival - Outlook Wet!

Excitement is building to fever pitch for the start of this weekend's Welland Valley Beer Festival. The beers are arriving under close security, if you want to know what's-what, where, how, and possibly when, you'll have to visit the pubs involved during the festival, and purchase a festival programme (£1.50) beforehand.

The weather, as you can see below, is excellent for keeping the beer and cider in peak condition. Not so good for Morris Dancing, but a dry, moderately sunny Saturday is promised... by the Met Office... Hmm! Anyway, as the old Welland Valley saying goes, 'It never rains but it pours... in the pub'


The ceremonial 'Delivery of the Straw Bales' is scheduled to occur at the Red Lion this evening, a popular attraction in itself (do ring to confirm if you're travelling a long way to see this spectacle). Casks will be tapped, glasses polished, and if you should hear a distant thundery rumble over the next few days, fear not, it's just the vintage buses firing up for a trial run down the valley. Toot-Toot!

Orchard Update - June

Sorry it's out of focus, but hopefully you get the idea...

Ciderhouse News - Welland Valley Beer Festival 2010

Following a visit from our friends in the north Ray & Gail, and a succesful trip into the heart of Herefordshire ciderland today, we can now confirm the cider and perry list for the Red Lion, Middleton during the forthcoming Welland Valley Beer Festival:

Broome Farm - Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Cider (Dry) 6.5%

Blakeney Red Perry (Med/Dry) 6.0%

Rockingham Forest Cider - Welland Valley, Northants

Cider (Med/Dry) 7.2%

Welland Valley Special Cider (Med) tbc%

Blakeney Red Perry (Med/Dry) 6.0%

Torkard Cider - Hucknall, Notts

2 Bees Cider (Med) 8.4%