Cherry Ripe (Life is just a bowl of cherries)

Cherry Ripe
Life is just a bowl of cherries
a taste of Kent
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From Roman origins
to the King’s nursery
Kent’s cherry heritage
This leaflet provides a summary history of
cherry farming in Kent. A circular walk in the
Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty showing the contrast between
the traditional old cherry orchards farmed
under Defra’s Countryside Stewardship
Scheme with a modern commercial cherry
orchard. Details on the health properties are
included and also where to buy award winning
cherry products as well as events and festivals
based on the county’s cherished cherry
heritage.
Kent has long been associated with the
cultivation of cherries. Indeed, the county’s
fame as the Garden of England springs from
its heritage
of growing cherries and other fruits. William
Lambarde wrote in his Perambulation of Kent –
1576, ‘This Tenham with thirty other parishes
extending from Rainham to Blean Wood be the
cherry garden of Kent. But as this at Tenham is
the parent of all the rest.’ Perhaps this was the
origins of Kent as ‘The Garden of England’
Spring time in the early 20th century was
greeted with over 5000 hectares of delicate
billowing blossom as observed through the
words of Alfred E Houseman in his poem
The Shropshire Lad –
‘Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.’
This profusion of cherry blossom had declined
by ten fold towards the end of the century. Yet
still from the founding of the first commercial
cherry orchards at Teynham, Kent remains the
County for cherries and today gate sales for
these favoured berries are booming.
‘Kent, sir – everybody knows Kent –
apples, cherries, hops and women’
Charles Dickens
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Traditional old cherry orchards are
characterised by tall spreading, wide spaced
trees with sheep grazing beneath. Often sad
forlorn limbs are left to succumb to the rigors
of disease and a slow death by
misadventure. Today, the traditional
orchard stands majestic. In a
traditional orchard the farmer
often grew about twelve
varieties of which a few are
shown on the list, thus giving
continuity of ripening
throughout the season.
The Gean, Dwarf or Wild Cherry are native to
Kent as wild trees, they were found growing here
by the Romans when they invaded Britain. It is
believed that the Romans introduced the sweet
cultivated cherry to Britain.
Cherry ripe, cherry ripe,
Ripe I cry,
Full and fair ones
Come and buy.
John Ludgate (1370 -1451) in his poem London
Lickpenny tells of a poor man of Kent who goes
to seek his fortune in the big city and see
cherries on sale in the streets.
Cherry ripe,
cherry ripe,
Ripe I cry,
‘Strabery rype’ and ‘cherryes in the rise!’
And bade me come near to buy….
Full and fair ones
Come and buy.
‘Cherries in the rise’ is the cry of the street
sellers. A ‘rise’ in Kent dialect is a twig. The
sellers tied cherries on a twig to advertise their
wares allowing their customers to pluck a sample
and taste. This is immortalised in a folk song
Cherry Ripe written by the English poet Robert
Herrick (1591-1674), which contains the refrain,
Cherries were grown in the service of the
Church as documented by the ‘Reeve’s Account
of the Manor of Teynham, 1376,’ which quotes,
‘twenty pence as payment for cherries sent to
the lord’, the lord being the Archbishop of
Canterbury.
eating
cherries means
possession of
something desired
Modern commercial cherry
orchards contain many smaller
trees grown on dwarfing
rootstocks, with a smaller mix of
modern varieties. Just before picking
you may notice covers or netting over the trees
to protect the crop from the birds and weather.
Rain will split the cherries deeming them unfit
for market. The cherries are picked either
from the ground or small tripod ladders.
During the reign of Henry VIII, his head fruiterer
Richard Harris was ordered to propagate sweet
cherry varieties with greater vigour brought
over from Flanders to England. The site chosen
to establish a fruit nursery was at Teynham. Land
stretching to 105 acres around the area of Oziers
Farm in Teynham and the New Gardens was
given to Harris by the King for this purpose.
With Harris’ nursery flourishing, Kent was
emerging as the UK’s premier cherry growing
area. A great expansion of the cherry growing
industry took place during the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries along the North Kent Downs
and the Faversham Fruit Belt was born. This area
covered from Rochester to Canterbury with the
deep loams of the Thanet sands, chalk and brick
earth. The Medway Valley on the alluvial soils,
sand and clay to the High Weald also planted
up extensive areas of cherries. Transportation
of these cherries to the City was via the River
Medway, the Swale and Conyer Creek.
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Fruiting down in Kent
By the end of the nineteenth century the cherry
auction sales were well established. The farmer
having grown the crop and achieved a good
quality may have decided he did not have
enough pickers to harvest the fruit.
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Grant’s Morella
Cherry Brandy
The story of Cherry Downs starts back in
the late 18th century when a distillery in
Limekiln Street, Dover was owned by three
partners. Thomas Grant of Sutton Valance
was one of the partners who took over the
business totally in 1847 and handed it to
his son Thomas Grant Junior. Whilst Thomas
was a noted distiller in Dover he had a
package of wild Morello cherries sent to
him as present from a local fruit grower.
Mr Grant was intrigued by their qualities
with a very distinctive flavour and rich
colour. From this stemmed an idea that they
could be used for producing a delicious
liqueur and then Grant’s Morella Cherry
Brandy was born.
Cherry orchards or gardens as they were known
stretched in size from two to five acres although
there were some exceptions. The trees were
planted in rows on a diamond formation like the
five on a dice with twenty to thirty feet between
the trees. Initially, since the trees were so small,
the land between the trees was cultivated and
crops of corn or soft fruit such as strawberries
or blackcurrants and gooseberries were grown.
This was known as intercropping. Once the trees
matured, the growing of crops between them
ceased and grass was sown as pasture for
sheep to graze.
Trees often reached heights of 60 feet and
long ladders were needed to pick the fruit.
The ladder length was indicated by the number
of rungs. Ladder length varied from 20 to 65
rungs, being wide at the bottom and tapering
at the top. The ladder boy, a specialist job,
ensured the ladder was secured in the trees.
It was placed where there was a heavy setting,
so that time was not wasted moving from tree
to tree. Pickers had to pick cherries fast but not
take them off the ‘strig’ or stem, as this made
them go bad quickly. On no account were they to
‘brut’ the tree: break off the small shoots. A joke
often told amongst pickers was that ‘If the ladder
falls through a tree don’t waste time but pick the
cherries you pass on your way down!’ The fruit
was picked into kibsey baskets which weighed
about 12lbs when full of cherries although
baskets varied in size. When they were marketed
different baskets were used,
such as chip baskets for local stores and half
sieve baskets for Covent Garden, London.
Cherry Downs
At this point the crop would be auctioned
during May or June at cherry auctions held
in Sittingbourne and the surrounding villages.
This custom continued until the end of the
twentieth century.
Sweet, sour and dukes, (a cherry, halfway
between the sweet and sour cherry) were
grown in orchards in Kent. Fittingly, Kent is home
to the National Fruit Collections at Brogdale. Over
300 varieties of cherries can be found growing
here providing a stunning display of blossom in
the Spring and a delicious feast in the Summer.
For further details of the National Fruit
Collection at Brogdale visit www.brogdale.org
‘…that a ripe strawberry or
cherry is as pleasing to the
eye as to the palate,...’
Grants Morella Cherry Brandy was first
produced in Dover until disaster struck
and the cliff face overhanging the
distillery collapsed and enveloped
the whole site. Despite this
catastrophe, Grants found new sites
in Maidstone and Lenham; both sites
were developed next to the new
railway which was being built in the
1880’s, enabling direct transport
from the distilleries by rail.
Within the villages of Lenham
and Lenham Heath, Morello
cherries grew in orchards
and hedgerows, the source
of the cherries used for the
production of the cherry
brandy. In 1892, over 20,000
trees furnished Grants with
most of the fruit needed to
produce their cherry brandy.
George Bunyard a orticulturalist
and fruit breeder from
Maidstone wrote in 1911 ‘apart from its
qualities as a beverage, it is also a fine
medicine in cases of diarrhoea and
dysentery, it is not made from the Morello’s
such as grow on walls, but from a local wild
Morello’.
The manufacture of the cherry brandy
continued until the 1960’s when E Leslie
Grant, the great-great-grandson of the
founder died and the company was taken
over. Grants Morella Cherry Brandy is still
available today through Shepherd Neame
of Faversham.
Finding cherry downs
Not far from Lenham next to the North
Downs Way stands a community picnic site
called Cherry Downs. Take a diversion
whilst walking along the North Downs
Way and as you cross Rayners Hill you
will see a gate, nestling high on the
bank. Enter through this gate
and discover the chalk downland
wildflowers. Follow the beautifully
carved oak way markers to the top of
the hillside. A new traditional Morello
cherry orchard has been planted by
the Mid Kent Downs Orchards Project
to celebrate the history of Lenham’s
Cherry Brandy. Stand on the scarp
and admire the fantastic view which
has changed so much in 100 years.
Charles Darwin
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Cherry delicious recipe
cherry timeline
Fresh Cherry Salsa
Ingredients
Dressing
450g (1lb) cherries coarsely chopped
14
1 fresh chilli finely chopped
1 tbsp raspberry vinegar
12
/ red onion chopped
1 tbsp orange juice
1 tsp honey
1 tomato chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
1611
1533
1600–1700
1629
Cherries arrived in Kent,
Britain with the Romans
Richard Harris,
fruiterer to King
Henry VIII plants
a mother nursery
at Teynham to
distribute trees
to other growers.
There was an
extensive planting of
cherry gardens in the
Faversham Fruit Belt
and Medway Valley.
Duke cherries
which are a cross
between sweet
Prunus avium
and acid Prunus
cerasus were first
mentioned
The site of Augustine’s abbey
is believe to have stood where
there is a cherry orchard.
First record of the Gean
(Prunus avium) growing in Kent
The Waterloo Cherry
was named after the
battle of Waterloo
1666
1815
Method
Hot cherry
stones were
used in bed
pans to warm
beds.
1591-1674
1st century AD
7g (1/4oz) coriander finely chopped
Mix together the chilli, red
onion, spring onions, tomato,
yellow pepper and coriander.
Put the dressing ingredients
into a jam jar and shake well
together. Pour the dressing
over the chilli mix. Add the
cherries and combine gently.
Leave to stand for 3 hours at
room temperature.
The Tradescant Cherry introduced
to Hatfield House England by
John Tradescant the elder
/ tsp salt
2 spring onions chopped
1small yellow pepper chopped
The folk song Cherry Ripe
written by the English poet
Robert Herrick
Dr Robert Hogg wrote The Fruit
Manual with comprehensive
description of fruit varieties
including cherry.
1860
1783
1829 - 1896
1880s
Black Tartarian was imported
from the region of Circassia, at
the eastern end of the Black Sea
after the conquest of the Crimea
Cherry Ripe was painted
by Sir John Everett Millais,
an English painter and
illustrator
1880s - Grants
Morella Cherry
Brandy Factory
was built
in Lenham
The debut of The Cherry
Orchard by the Moscow Art
Theatre on 17th January
(Chekhov's birthday)
The breeding
of self fertile
cherries
began in
British Columbia
1904
1940 - 50
1921
The National Fruit
Collection established
at Wisley by the
Horticultural Society
under the guidance of
Thomas Andrew Knight
5193 hectares of
cherries grown
in Kent
75% of cherry
plantings were in Kent
1951
1964
1952 - 54
1958
1994
National Fruit
Collection relocated
to Brogdale, Kent
Colt the dwarfing
cherry rootstock
was bred
1994 – 554 hectares
of cherries gown
in Kent
Park Farm Cherry Orchard,
Lynsted, Kent a traditional
orchard was established as
community orchard
2004
2008
National Cherry Day
Established as the
3rd Saturday in July
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Health properties
of cherries
Cherries: A Super-Fruit
• Research shows that cherries are a
delicious summer snack with exceptional
health benefits so much so that they are
known as a ‘super fruit’.
• Sweet cherries are a good source of the
fibre and vitamin C; they are low in fat;
sodium and cholesterol free.
• Sour cherries such as Morello,
Montmorency and Kentish Red contain
amongst the highest level of antioxidants
compared to other fruits and are a natural
source of vitamin A.
Here are some of the incredible health
benefits you could gain from eating
cherries regularly!
1. Blood Pressure
Cherries are a good source of potassium
which can help control blood pressure
and reduce the risk of a stroke.
2. Jet Lag
Melatonin which is found in cherries is an
effective means of promoting overall healthy
sleep patterns and reducing jet lag.
3. Arthritis
Studies suggest that the anti-inflammatory
properties of cherries may help to control
arthritis and gout.
4. Heart Disease
It is well known that fresh cherries contain
powerful antioxidants which may help to
reduce the risk of certain cancers and heart
disease.
5. Diabetes
It is suggested that some of the compounds
in cherries appear to aid diabetes control
and help in reducing the complications
associated with this disease.
6. Alzheimer’s
Anthocyanins a pigment in cherries may help
to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
7. Anti-aging
Studies also suggest that these powerful
pigments possess anti-aging properties.
While there’s no established guideline on how
many cherries it takes to benefit from these
health properties, experts suggest that 1-2
servings of cherries daily, whether they are
fresh, dried or in the form of juice, can help.
Some of this research has been undertaken
by the University of Michigan.
Cherry varieties
Traditional Cherry Varieties
Modern Cherry Varieties
early rivers was raised in 1872 by the Bedfordshire
nurseryman, Thomas Rivers of Sawbridgeworth. It is the
earliest black variety to ripen in the orchard, a very
good cropper with good fruit size. The fruits ripen in
succession giving two or three pickings. This is a very
fine cherry which was extensively planted in the early
20 Century.
colney is a very large true black variety; it has superb
quality and is very sweet. It is one of the very late
ripening modern commercial varieties and worth
waiting for. This variety was bred in Norwich.
Merton Bigarreau is a black cherry with a firm flesh
and superb outstanding flavour. It is a very heavy
cropper ripening early to mid season. It was raised by
the John Innes Horticultural institute in 1924 as a cross
between Knights Early Black and Napoleon Bigarreau.
roundel is a large heart shaped sweet red to dark
red cherry which ripens mid season. It is one of the
excellent varieties which was bred in Kent.
Florence is a white variety with a very
sweet flesh which tends to be pinkish
red. It is a very large and late
ripening cherry. Back at the turn of
the century this variety was also
known by Bunyard, a famous fruit
breeder, as Wellington.
Waterloo is a black cherry which has firm
dark red flesh and is medium in size with an extra fine
delicious flavour. It is ripe at the end of June to early July
and does not crack in wet weather. It was bred by
Thomas Knight by crossing Bigarreau with May Duke.
The cherry first fruited at Elton Hall a few days after
Napoleon had been defeated at the battle of
Waterloo hence its name.
Bradbourne Black is a black cherry with dark flesh,
a large heavy cropper and ready for picking at the
end of July. This variety was bred in Kent at East Malling
Research Station in the 1950’s and was named after
Bradbourne House part of the research station.
It is a very popular variety.
Gaucher Bigarreau a variety bred in Kent 1907,
it has large round black juicy fruits with a sweet flavour
and dark red flesh. It is a good cropper with vigorous,
upright growth and very high quality and is ready for
picking mid to late July.
napoleon Bigarreau is generally known as Naps to
generations of local people in Kent. It is a fine white
cherry flushed with yellow and orange skin. It is
renowned for its firm very sweet flesh and ripens
early August.
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stella has large fruit which are dark red to black with
a very sweet flavour and the flesh is very juicy. The fruit
ripens in late July. It is a very good tree to grow in the
garden since it is a self fertile tree (needs no pollinator).
It was raised in British Columbia in the 1960’s.
Van has large true black fruits, a very firm flesh with
a flavour which is sweet and considered to be superb.
This variety is a regular heavy cropper and extremely
reliable, an excellent variety from Canada and was used
in the breeding of many of our modern self
fertile varieties.
Penny is an outstanding quality black cherry that is
firm, very sweet and large. It is a very late variety, has
excellent quality and reliable cropping. This cherry was
bred at East Malling Research, Kent in 2001 and is now
one of the best commercial cherries.
sunburst is a variety with a spectacular
large black sweet fruit with gorgeous
rich flavour. This variety is self
fertile and was introduced from
Canada in 1984. This variety
won the first prize at the
Cherry and Soft Fruit Show at
Maidstone in 2004.
Merchant has large sweet dark red or near
black fruits with a very good flavour. It is a heavy
cropping cherry and was raised at John Innes Institute,
Norwich and introduced commercially in 1976.
Lapins ‘cherokee’ was bred in Canada in 1984.
It has large dark red/black juicy fruit with dark flesh
with good split resistance. It is a heavy cropper
which ripens later in the season. The tree growth is
upright and strong. This variety is self fertile
and a garden favourite.
cherry blossom and the cuckoo
appear at the same time.
evidently the cuckoo needed three
good meals of ripe cherries before
it stopped calling in June.
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Cherry Trail Doddington and Newnham Walk
3.6 miles (5.8 km) - allow 2 hours
This 3.6 mile (5.8 km) circular walk from
Doddington Church follows footpaths and quiet
country lanes, past traditional old cherry orchards
and modern commercial cherry orchards. It
winds it way through an avenue of wild cherry,
Prunus avium, past a cobnut platt, through modern
apple orchards returning through valleys and
woods typical of the Kent Downs Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
This is a country walk and suitable clothing and
footwear needs to be worn as well as taking all
necessary care on the country lanes. The Street
running through both Newnham and Doddington
needs to be crossed twice with parked cars on
the roadside so beware of traffic. This walk can be
followed at any time of the year; it can sometimes
be wet and muddy in places as well as slippery
with some steep inclines. You will encounter stiles
and kissing gates on this walk.
There are fantastic views particularly during
blossom time in the Spring. During the Summer
when the fruit is being picked, cherries are
available for sale at farm gates nearby along with
other local fruit products. Refreshments are
available at Doddington Place (on Sundays and
Bank Holidays seasonally), the Chequers public
house, Doddington and the George public house,
Newnham. In the village of Doddington there is
also the renowned butchers, S. W. Doughty.
How to get there?
By car: The church car park opposite Doddington
Church can be used if there are no services
taking place. Parking is also available on the road
in the village of Newnham where the trail can be
joined by Newnham Church.
By bus: No 662 from both Sittingbourne and
Faversham. Alight at the Chequers public house,
Doddington walk left with the Chequers behind
you and follow the road until you reach Church
Hill. Turn left and follow up the hill to Doddington
Church, notice the sign, ‘The Beheading of St John
the Baptist’. Take a few moments to look to your
left with wonderful views across the valley to
Doddington village nestling in the bottom.
By train: to Faversham
Check times on the Traveline website www.
traveline.org.uk Tel: 0870 6082608 or visit www.
kentpublictransport.info
1 Immediately beyond the church is the entrance
to Doddington Place. Notice the commercial
cherry orchard opposite. This orchard has
trees which are growing on a Colt rootstock,
a dwarfing cherry rootstock. A rootstock
determines the size the tree will grow, on
to which the chosen variety is grafted.
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2 Continue following the road until you reach
Slips Cottage on the right, opposite you will
see a cobnut platt where Kentish cobnuts are
grown. Turn right immediately before Slips
Cottage on to a footpath and pass over the log
stile following the track through the wood. Look
above and during the Spring this is an avenue
of wild cherry trees, Prunus avium in blossom.
In Summer the trees are laden with wild
cherries, in the Autumn the leaves turn a rich
vibrant shade of orange. Notice through the
trees a modern cherry orchard planted at the
edge of the wood on the Doddington Place
Estate.
3 Follow the track through this ancient woodland
which will be full of primroses, bluebells and
wood anemones during the Spring turning left
at the junction. This avenue leads from
Doddington Church to the wrought iron gates
of Sharsted Court. In the church there is a
chapel dedicated to the squires of Sharsted
dating back to the 13th century Notice the
winged stone bulls on the entrance plinths
either side of the gates and behind, the Queen
Anne front to this romantic and rambling house.
Follow past the brick and flint wall with the yew
topiary peering over and continue down the
road past the side entrance to Sharsted Court.
In the far distance on the left notice some
mistletoe in the poplar trees. Leaving the tennis
courts on your left join the road and bear to
your left.
left. Upon reaching the garage the path turns to
the right. Then following round the garden to
the left, notice the eucalyptus windbreak on
your right, this is an unusual sight. The path
then turns to the right at the orchard and follows
the top of the hill with views across the valley to
Eastling and to the south west nestling below is
Newnham.
5 Pass a well clipped hedge with yew topiary and
look back to your right at Champion Court built
by Hugh de Newenham in the 12th century
whose family took its name from the village.
Follow down the drive until you reach the
entrance to Mill Cottages. Turn left through the
kissing gate and walk diagonally across the hill
over traditional chalk grassland rich with herbs
and wildflowers, descending to the village of
Newnham. Ahead across the valley you can just
see in the distance the remnants of Syndale
vineyard where, many years before, a roman
vineyard once stood. At the road turn left to the
junction with The Street.
4 Continue straight ahead taking the footpath
immediately to your left across the corner of a
new commercial orchard. Join the road again
by some large cedar trees. The orchards are
planted with Mondial Gala and Braeburn
apples. Beyond the farmyard and barns, take
the footpath on the right down a drive with an
alder windbreak on the right and apples on the
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orchards standing majestic on both sides of
the road ahead. These orchards are about 60
years old and are being farmed under the
Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Sheep may
be grazing beneath the trees to keep the grass
down, a traditional way to help maintain the
biodiversity in old orchards. In places new
trees have been planted where old trees have
died. Beyond the orchard on the left some new
trees have been planted to extend the orchard.
6 Look to your right and you will see Calico
House a timber framed building with red and
white plasterwork. This Jacobean house was
first recorded in 1617 in the will of Stephen
Hulkes, a gentleman of Newham. The similarity
of the red and white plasterwork on the
outside of the house to the printed 'calico'
fabric of the early 18th century may explain
the house's unusual name. Other suggestions
have been that calico was made there, or that
'Calico' was the name used for an alehouse
run from the house!
7 At the junction with The Street turn left
following the pavement to the George public
house. Cross the road, carefully, just past the
Church of St Peter and St Paul into Seed Road.
Follow behind the church noticing the cherry
trees in the church yard. Continue past the
Tapster up the hill with high banks either side
until you reach the top where there are
extensive views towards Frith and Otterden.
You will glimpse sight of Doddington Place on
your right and some old traditional cherry
8 Continue to the junction turning into Hopes Hill
by Shullard Court. On your left you will see
more old traditional cherry orchards. Notice
the grease bands round the trunks of the trees.
These were placed to help protect the trees
from wingless winter moths crawling up the
trunks to lay their eggs in the buds. Before you
reach the bottom of the hill take the footpath to
your right at an angle passing through the
wood and across the field to the top of the hill.
Here you have a clear view of the front of
Doddington Place. Continue following the
footpath to the road and turn left.
9 Cross the road carefully and join the
pavement, mistletoe hangs in the horse
chestnut tree to your right, in the late Winter
snowdrops can be seen surrounding the base.
Turn right into Church Hill and continue up the
hill to where you started your walk.
Doddington Place has interesting gardens, the
grounds are supported under the Conservation
Walks, Countryside Stewardship Scheme and
can be entered at any time from gates around
the perimeter. Check for signs to ascertain
this is still in place.
Countryside stewardship scheme
About 100 traditional orchards in Kent are currently being conserved through Defra’s Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
The scheme, now closed to new applicants, involved farmers and land managers entering a 10-year agreement to manage
the countryside in an environmentally beneficial way. The on-going work aims to conserve and enhance the biodiversity
and distinctiveness of the English landscape and its heritage through sustainable means for everybody to enjoy. Doddington
Place is managed under this scheme, which has now been superseded for new applicants by a new agri-environmental
scheme, Environmental Stewardship Scheme which is managed for Defra by Natural England.
Traditional cherry orchards, characterised by widely spaced standard fruit trees of old and often scarce traditional varieties,
continue to be supported by four management options and associated capital items under the Higher Level Section within
Environmental Stewardship. This scheme aims to manage the traditional orchard for cultural, historic, and wildlife objectives.
In addition to their landscape value, orchards provide a wide range of wildlife habitats. They are particularly important for
lichens, insects and birds such as the Noble Chafer beetle and Lesser Spotted woodpecker.
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Local food producers
and suppliers
Places to eat
ArDennes OF FAVersHAM
114 West Street, Faversham ME13 7JB
PIne trees FArM
s.W. DOuGHty
snOAD FArM MeAts
Bistock, Doddington
Sittingbourne ME9 0AX
Family Butchers
The Street, Doddington
Sittingbourne, ME9 0BH
Snoad Farm, Otterden
Faversham ME13 0DB
Contact: Julie Murray
www.ardennes.co.uk
Contact: Stuart Doughty
& Alison Church
Tel: 01795 890700
Tel: 01795 590008
Contact: Kevin Payne
Tel: 01795 886266
Fax: 01795 886266
E-mail: [email protected]
www.pinetreesfarm.co.uk
Tel: 01795 886255
E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]
www.snoadfarm.com
Contact: Brian Booth
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: 01795 539426
www.swdoughty.co.uk
tHe PLOuGH At stALIsFIeLD Green
The Plough, Stalisfield Green
Faversham, Kent ME13 0HY
Contact: Robert Lloyd
E-mail: [email protected]
If the wind blows in April
you’ll have your fill.
But if in May
they’ll go away.
MOnKsHILL FArM
Royal School for
Deaf Children
Monkshill Road, Waterham
Faversham ME13 9EH
tHe ButcHer
OF BrOGDALe
Tel: 01227 752778
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 01795 890256
tHe BOWL Inn
Egg Hill Road, Charing
Ashford, TN270HG
Contact: Richard & Helen Stephens
Fax: 01227 752778
www.stalisfieldgreen.com
tHe tIDDLy POMMe
www.monkshillfarm.org.uk
The Marketplace, Brogdale Farm
Brogdale Road, Faversham ME13 8XZ
Contact: Debbie Hickman
Martyn Cooper
Tel: 01795 531888
Fax: 01795 538652
E-mail: [email protected]
The Market Place, Brogdale Farm
Brogdale Road, Faversham ME13 8ZX
Contact: Nicky OSullivan
Tel: 01795 533338
Contact: Alan Paine
E-mail: [email protected]
www.bowl-inn.co.uk
Tel: 01233 712256
Fax: 01233 714705
Fax: 01843 822215
E-mail: [email protected]
tHe cHeQuers Inn
The Street, Doddington
Faversham, Kent ME9 0BG
Tel: 01795-88636
tHe GeOrGe Inn
44 The Street, Newnham,
Kent ME9 0LL
cherries are a symbol
of fertility, merrymaking
and festivity.
In Victorian times small
cherry trees grown in pots were
brought to the table laden with
cherries on the branch to be
picked at the table.
Tel: 01795 890237
www.producedinkent.co.uk
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Places to stay
PALAce FArM HOsteL
& cAMPsIte
Doddington, Kent
Bed and Breakfast accommodation, hostel
style, quiet camping for tents only.
Tel: 044 (0)1795 886200
Email: [email protected]
www.palacefarm.com
BrenLey FArM
Brenley Lane, Boughton
Faversham, Kent ME13 9LY
Tel: 01227 751203
Mobile: 07860 505359
Fax: 01227 751203
www.brenley-farm.co.uk
A member of Farmstay UK
Relaxing and flexible hostel style B&B on a family
farm in a rural village with pub in North Kent
Downs Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty
(AONB). Ideal for cycling, walking and for those
with a love of the countryside. Walk through the
heart of the downland with its beautiful wooded
valleys and mixture of farmland concealing many
old and interesting villages. We are in a central
location for you to explore Canterbury, Rochester,
Chatham, Leeds Castle and the many other
historic towns, villages and castles in Kent. We are
convenient for day trips to London, by train or by
car. Explore old country houses, ancient churches
or relax in a quiet village pub or watch a local
cricket team on the green at weekends.
Brenley is an elegant, early Georgian farmhouse
on a traditional Kentish working farm. Situated
amidst the hop gardens, orchards and paddocks,
yet with easy access to the many attractions the
area has to offer. Whether you come for
a short break to take life at a more leisurely
pace, or a longer stay to explore the delights
of Kent, we have something for everyone.
tHe OLD VIcArAGe
Church Hill, Doddington
Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 0BD
Tel/Fax: 01795 886136
Mobile: 0792 2043292
www.oldvicaragedoddington.co.uk
national cherry
Day is the 3rd
saturday in July
www.producedinkent.co.uk
The Old Vicarage is located on the edge of the
village of Doddington in a designated Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty on the North Downs.
The Grade II listed property has been recently
renovated to a high modern standard, while
retaining core period features which date back to
1656. Locally sourced produce is used for our full
English breakfast whenever available. Other
dietary options can be catered for on request.
Kent Downs Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty
The Kent Downs form the eastern half of the
Mid Kent
North Downs, following the chalk ridge from
Downs Project
the London and Surrey borders through the
the Mid Kent Downs Project
county to the iconic White Cliffs at Dover.
It is a diverse and vibrant landscape, one of
covers 29 parishes in the AOnB,
drama and intimacy with its dramatic south
between Lenham and Boxley, from
facing chalk hillsides offering inspirational
the A20 in the south to the M2 in
views across surrounding countryside, towns,
estuaries and sea. This ancient
the north. the Project provides
landscape of wooded hillsides
an advisory service on
and secluded dry valleys
landscape
A cherry
gives a remote feel;
and wildlife issues and
tree is an
the intimacy is to be found
amongst the network of
omen of good
helps community groups
tiny lanes, historic
fortune.
and parish councils to
hedgerows, ancient
access grant money to
woodlands and traditional
conserve local environments,
orchards. Amongst these nestle
distinctive downland villages,
with an overall aim to ‘Link
isolated farmsteads, churches,
People, Land and nature’.
and many sites of historic cultural interest.
Opportunities abound to explore all corners
For more information on this
of this AONB by foot, cycle or horseback.
nationally protected landscape
Don’t forget your wild flower and butterfly
and the Mid Kent Downs Project
guide for the stunning chalk grassland where
rare and beautiful orchids flourish and herbs
contact 01303 815170 or visit the
tantalise the senses! In turn these plant
website www.kentdowns.org.uk
species provide a habitat for an abundance
of butterflies and moths as well as being a
sanctuary for many rare
and threatened
wildlife species.
Explore, look and listen
and you are sure to find
some of the treasures
of the Kent Downs.
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Produced in Kent
The best of food,
drink, products
and services
from the garden
of England
Bourne Grange Stables
Tonbridge Road
Hadlow TN11 0AU
Tel: 01732 853170
Fax: 01732 852521
Email: [email protected]
Produced in Kent, supported through a joint
venture between Kent County Council and
Hadlow College, is dedicated to promoting
and celebrating the best of food, drink
and products to be found in Kent. We are
committed to providing business and
marketing support to raise the profile,
provenance and reputation of products
from Kent.
We support and promote the land-based and
rural sectors within the county and continually
look for ways to develop our membership
offering, with a strong emphasis on assisting
business development, diversification
opportunities and joint sourcing projects.
Our website aims to bring producers
and the buying public closer together.
If you are looking for a farmer, producer
or independent shop, or simply would
just like to know what Kent has to offer
across the seasons, then visit our website
at www.producedinkent.co.uk.
Produced in Kent publishes a quarterly
newsletter that can be found in libraries
and Tourist Information Centres, farmers'
markets and farm shops. It is also available
direct to your door if you sign up as a
Friend of Produced in Kent (for more
details please see the website).
support Kent – buy local!!
Produced in Kent Limited
www.producedinkent.co.uk
Sheldwich Fruit Map painted by local artist Cherryl Fountain, a Royal Academy Schools post
graduate with 23 years of exhibiting at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
“Cherryl is bang in line of English eccentric artists: Blake, Calvert, Samuel Palmer, Richard
Palmer and Stanley Spencer. These painters have no doubts about their work because they
have a skill which enables them to give full reign to their zest for their subjects. Cherryl’s
sheer application is amazing.” (John Ward rA 1996)
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Cherry Ripe
Life is just a bowl of cherries
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the content
­­of this leaflet is accurate and up-to-date at the time of printing, no liability can be accepted
for any errors, omissions or misrepresentation of fact contained herein.
This is one of a series of themed brochures promoting Kent’s local produce and distinctive
landscapes.
Researched and written by Pippa Palmar, Mid Kent Downs Project. Tel: 01303 814170 –
www.kentdowns.org.uk.
Designed by Nakedvine Ltd, Chatham, Kent.
Tel: 01634 847171 www.nakedvine.co.uk
Our thanks and appreciation to Alan Major, author of
Cherries in the Rise, for allowing us to use quotes from
his book.
Reading University and Defra National Fruit Collections