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...