The Journal gives a weekly update on events in our English apple orchards, using pictures and video clips to follow seasonal activities and giving the consumer a level of detail not available from any other source.
All aspects of growing, harvesting, storage, grading, packing and marketing are included enabling consumers to understand the challenges English growers face in supplying our sophisticated market place.
As I write this week's English Apple Man Journal, The Oxford Farming Conference is drawing to an end
This annual event is an important event where all factions of British Farming are represented. In this Journal The EAM tries to pass on some of the key messages from the Oxford Farming Conference
Now in its 90th year, the Oxford Farming Conference is a key date in the farming calendar. Taking place from January 7-9 at the Examination Schools in the city's historic High Street, the event brings together politicians. industry leaders and farmers to discuss key issues affecting the agricultural sector.
"Growing Resilience", running from 7th to 9th January, will mark an opportunity to celebrate our incredible sector and its ability to adapt to the ever-changing world, the opportunities ahead for current and future generations, and a valued legacy, passed on by previous generations.
OFC states: "We will also reflect on the resilience, strength and significant moments of the OFC over the last 90 years. Looking back to 1936 when OFC was first launched, our motto remains true today as it did all those years ago - to "challenge and inspire", not only those who attend but the wider industry. And we are extremely proud that in recent years we have added "include", highlighting our continued commitment that OFC is welcoming and accessible to all.
As we look to the future with hope and optimism, "Growing Resilience" will allow us to explore what is coming next and how we can ensure that our people, our farm businesses, and our environment continues to grow and develop in a resilient manner
Making her OFC debut, Defra Secretary of State Emma Reynolds will be hoping for a warmer welcome than was meted out to her predecessor Steve Reed last year when she takes to the stage on Thursday.
Delivering the keynote address and fresh on the back of the Government U-turn on Inheritance Tax, Ms Reynolds will also take questions from the audience.
She will be joined by Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity at the Scottish Government; Welsh Government's Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs; and Andrew Muir, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland.
The theme of this year's event is 'Growing Resilience' and there will be appearances from Baroness Minette Batters, following the publication of her Farm Profitability Review and also NFU president Tom Bradshaw.
As we enter a new year, The English Apple Man reports on winter activity on our UK fruit farms with the help of British Apples and Pears 'Orchard watch'
ACH Farming in Kent is taking a bold step for the future of British apples and pears with two major new orchard plantings now under way;
A brand new Jazz orchard is being established, with 20,000 trees planted at 3,077 trees per hectare. This land was growing wheat only last year, so it is a complete transformation into a thriving new top fruit site. These young trees will take around three to four years to reach full production, but the work happening today lays the foundations for years of high quality British fruit.
Next up is a 15 hectare Gala orchard with 46,000 trees soon to be planted. It is a significant investment at a time when the farming climate remains challenging, yet growers like ACH Farming continue to push forwards with long term commitments to British production.
Click on New orchard planting video
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New orchards like these play a vital role in securing more British apples and pears for shoppers in the years ahead. It is long term decisions from growers that support our ambition to reach 60 per cent British by 2035.
Here's to a future full of home grown fruit.
OrchardWatch - British Apples And Pears - Back British Farming - Fruit Growing - Buy British
Just six more days and it will be Christmas
For my wife and I a new adventure as we settle into our retirement apartment, we will probably have a quiet Christmas Day on our own for lunch, and relax in the afternoon.
After more than 60 years of marriage we have enjoyed the full spectrum of Christmas celebrations. In our early years we would spend Christmas Day with either my parents or with my wife's family. Like so many families this changed as we had children and we became the entertainers.
We were fruit farmers, but back then we like many farmers bred Turkeys for Christmas; we produced about 500 and prepared circa 70 for local families. With a growing family, we enjoyed a Turkey Roast on Christmas Day and New Year's Day and plenty of cold turkey sandwiches as well!
This week's Journal is a short one, with an interesting piece published by HortNews about the discovery of an apple thought to be extinct! ;
Today, lunch with a group of six old friends; all but one Octogenarians!
Organised by the youngest in our midst; still in his seventies, we met at The Woodcock Inn at Iden Green near Benenden in West Kent.
Below: The Woodcock Inn
The Woodcock is a traditional 16th Century Village Inn situated in the heart of Iden Green - Kent within the high weald area of outstanding natural beauty. Almost a year after opening, The Woodcock has encapsulated the old characteristics of the traditional pub with a touch of sophistication in the country! Serving locally sourced fresh, homemade, proper "pub grub". As well as catering for parties and functions of all sizes, from our newly renovated vibrant restaurant, our beautiful garden room and our picturesque beer garden we can cater for all needs.
Alan Wickham initiated our lunch club in early 2025. Alan is an old friend who grew apples and propagated hop plants at his farm near Winchet Hill. Alan is part of the Wickham dynasty of which there are many!
After several weeks of trauma, we are now ensconced in our new retirement apartment. Small but very comfortable, getting to know our fellow residents; coffee mornings, 'knit and natter' for my wife and various events to keep us occupied.
It is strange coming back to Hawkhurst after 30 years, where as a family we farmed from 1921 until 1991. I wandered along the Colonnade surveying the shops and taking in the changes. Visiting the chemist my mind drifted back to my teenage years when the Pharmacist was Aubrey Singleton (a friend of my Dad) and a motorcycle fanatic, who would rebuild his bike in the front room of his house (not sure if Mrs Singleton approved.) also when returning from my school in Tunbridge Wells (on the 84 bus) I would get off at the Colonnade and nip into Baldock the Baker (it s now Rye Bakery) and buy either a Cream Bun or a Swiss Bun; today I popped in and bought a Swiss Bun for tea, 'just as I remembered'
I have bumped into two old friends, one Hazel who is a couple of years older and in my youth, I felt she was a big sister and in the Chemist waiting for my medication, thought 'that face' seems familiar! Hi Charlie, John he replied, what are you doing here? Just moved back into the village I replied; Charlie was a brilliant engineer and fixed problems with my tractors way back in the 1970's and 1980's.
Every day seems to bring another 'blast from the past'
My dear readers, recently I have been under considerable stress. At the age of 83 and not in the best of health, and in the process of my wife and I moving into a retirement apartment, clearing a lifetimes 'memorabilia' acerbated by a fire in our kitchen (we were lucky) resulting in the loss of carpets some furniture and requiring restorative cleansing from smoke contamination of walls ceilings and contents.
While this has been stressing us both, my dear younger brother has been trying to overcome a stroke from last year, he fell a couple of weeks ago and broke his Femur bone, the fall happened on a Thursday and he was operated on the following Monday receiving high doses of pain relief.
The operation was successful, but the recovery has been traumatic. Sadly he suffered a massive cardiac arrest on the Friday evening and heartbreakingly died during the early hours of Saturday morning the 4th October,
This year we are enjoying vintage colour and quality from our apples and pears.
This week The English Apple Man features apple varieties grown by organic grower Paul Ward
The trees were supplied by J .R. Breach and the pictures taken by Peter Breach.
Most of J.R. Breach fruit trees are produced by Dalival, based in Northern France, at Villers-Cotterets (approx 50 miles NE of Paris). Dalival also has nurseries in other parts of France, and works closely with some nurseries elsewhere in Europe. The nursery at Villers-Cotterets specialises in apple and pear tree production,
Peter visited Paul at his organic orchards in Sandhurst Kent where he took pictures of three varieties JR Breach had supplied, namely; Stardance, Cabaret and Crimson Crisp. Both CABARET and STARDANCE varieties share the same parents; SATURN X BRAEBURN and were raised by John Breach and his son Peter.
Click on: J R Breach
I met Paul Ward back in 1996, just two years after he launched his organic business. With my Fruition Group colleague Graham we visited Paul hoping to arrange a supply of Organic apples to Waitrose who were a 'high profile' customer with a determination to support 'home grown organic produce'
Today Mole End Farms grows top fruit organically on approximately 110 Hectares across 8 sites in Kent at Cranbrook, Marden, Goudhurst, Sandhurst and Chart Sutton. Mole End; grow, store, pack and market their own produce.
History Mole End Farms Ltd was the brainchild of Paul Ward and Sara Rowan who, in 1994, decided that the time was right for a complete career change. Passionate believers in organics, they bought Mole End Farm in Chart Sutton and became the sole directors of Mole End Farms Ltd. This was followed by the purchase of Hartley Lands Farm at Cranbrook which they proceeded to convert to Soil Association organic standards and gradually over the years further holdings and organic orchards have been added.
In June 2017, after a long period of thought, deliberation and soul searching, Sara Rowan decided that the time was right to leave the business to pursue new challenges. Sara is an accomplished artist and had several commissions that she had been asked to do - she also hoped that weather permitting, she would have more time to ride her beloved Harley!
Paul Ward remains as majority owner and director of Mole End Farms Ltd with James Langley-Hunt as Business Director, CEO.
The 2025 apple harvest continues with stunning crops of superb quality and colour
ALSO: The English Apple Man and Mrs Appleman are moving into a Retirement Apartment in mid November - See bottom of Journal for full story!!!
Apple harvest is progressing well with main season varieties like Gala finished / finishing. Picking Jazz is about to start and Braeburn next. Pink Lady and Magic Star a bit later in the month!
A message from British Apples and Pears Limited
October is here... and so are the British apples!
Right now, supermarket shelves are brimming with home-grown favourites - crisp, juicy and full of flavour. Every bite is a celebration of our orchards, our growers, and the best of British farming.
When you choose British, you're backing our countryside, cutting food miles, and enjoying some of the freshest fruit in the world.
This British Apple Month, let's fill our baskets, crunch with pride, and show why British is best.
On Wednesday 17th September 2025, BAPL hosted an orchard event to showcase the British apple harvest for retailers and political stakeholders.
Set amongst extensive Gala, Jazz and Pink Lady orchards in Kent, the event showcased apple picking, the 2025 crop and plans for future growth.
More than 100 people attended the event and there was a buzz about the group as everyone recognised that this is an exciting time for UK apple and pear growers with huge potential to grow the production of our delicious and nutritious fruit.
In last week's Journal The English Apple Man highlighted Ali Capper's speech in which she covered extensively key subjects
This week the pictures of the 'orchard walk take centre stage'
The English Apple Man thanks Martin Apps 'Countrywide Photographic for allowing me to use some of his fantastic photos taken on the day!
Countrywide Photographic is a well-established, professional photographic service delivering inspirational images to clients across the South East.
It is headed up by Martin Apps, who blends a creative approach and superlative technical skills with a relaxed and friendly nature that helps ensure the best possible results.
Below: left. Bowl of apples & pears and right. Worldwide Fruit 'goodie bag'
On Wednesday 17th September British Apples and Pears celebrated the start of the new apple and pear season.
WITH SO MUCH CONTENT AND PICTURES AVAILABLE, I WILL MAJOR ON ALI CAPPER'S SPEECH AND INCLUDE MANY PICTURES IN NEXT WEEK'S JOURNAL
The event was hosted by Robert Hinge and his son John, with an address by Ali Capper Chair of BAPL and contributions from Steve Maxwell CEO of Worldwide Fruit Ltd.
Below: The Oak Grove Wedding Venue is strategically located next to many of Robert & John Hinge's orchard and very near to the River Medway estuary was a perfect location for the BAPL 2025 new season launch.
Click on: The Oak Grove
This page initially shows the latest journals. You can use a journal's link to view the full story.
It is now much easier to find a particular journal of interest. Just type your search terms into the search box or select the month and/or year and click Submit.
I have completed the process of reworking my entire archive of journal pages into the style of the new website to make them more accessible to users of mobile phones etc.
Although the content now adapts to the size of the display, some of the archived journals still have photographs that won't fit and so get cropped. Archived journals are best viewed on a computer screen!