2000 >

Concept 1

The rows where the trees will be planted are deep spaded to create the ideal growing conditions

1 of 34

Concept 2

The cultivated rows are rolled to conserve moisture

2 of 34

Concept 3

Up go the concrete posts that will support the table-top structure

3 of 34

Concept 4

The open trench awaiting the irrigation water main early one morning in late April 2007

4 of 34

Concept 5

Two planting gangs planted the 10,700 trees in four and a half days

5 of 34

Concept 6

The supporting wirework is laid out and clipped to the concrete posts

6 of 34

Concept 7

The newly planted trees are given a light prune in early May 2007

7 of 34

Concept 8

An overview of the concept orchard in July 2007 from the top of the wirework in the adjacent organic hop garden

8 of 34

Concept 9

The thick sward of red clover is cut and thrown as a mulch under the trees using a specially designed mower. This acts to introduce organic matter and fertility to the soil around the trees and helps retain moisture in the soil 

9 of 34

Concept 10

The Braeburn trees in the organic concept orchard in August 2007

10 of 34

Concept 11

There were some apples on the orchard that were harvested late in 2007. These are Pinova just prior to harvest in early November

11 of 34

Sunset

A fantastic winter sunset over the meadows at Poultry Farm - 2000

12 of 34

Seed strips

Winter seed strips to provide a range of food for small birds throughout the winter are sown in June. This mix contains sunflowers as well as millet and sorghum

13 of 34

Seed strips

This strip containing predominately winter radish, a favourite winter meal for the elusive tree sparrows, is drilled around the side of an 18 hectare red clover field in full bloom

14 of 34

Seed strips

Some very unusual things are turning up on the organically managed areas of the farm. This Wasp spider was spotted in the bird seed strips

15 of 34

Seed strips

During the winter, flocks of finches and Bramblings fed on the strips, picking them clean. This is the sunflower strip in January 2008

16 of 34

Hops

The organic hops in September 2007

17 of 34

Hops

The 2007 hop crop on the cooling-room floor in the oast house at Little Mill Farm

18 of 34

Hops

Trevor Simmons, Adam and Hugo Hall press up the 2007 organic hop crop

19 of 34

A Royal visit

Peter Hall (left) meets HRH The Prince of Wales at The Wychwood Brewery. Our entire organic hop crop is sent to Wychwood so that they may brew their own organic beer, Circlemaster, and all The Duchy Original ales

20 of 34

Predators

Just some of the hundreds of ladybirds hibernating in the irrigation pump house adjacent to the organic concept orchard, and the organic hops

21 of 34

Snow

The organic hop garden received a bit of a shock in April 2008. The tender young shoots were already well through the ground when we had a blizzard!

22 of 34

Hedge laying

Part of 200 metres of  newly laid hedge on the boundery of Jewell House pear orchard in winter 2002. It is above this hedge that the tree sparrow nest box colonies were placed in spring 2007

23 of 34

Hedge laying

Trevor Simmons lays a short run of hedge around a restored pond in winter 2000

24 of 34

Blossom

Lavenders - the organic Worcester orchard - in full bloom on the 5th May 2008

25 of 34

Underlyn

A newly planted Bramley orchard in winter 2004. The oast house is to be seen in the distance

26 of 34

Three Generations

Adam, Peter & John in 2006 in a standard Bramley orchard planted at Poultry Farm in about 1920

27 of 34

Awards

Peter Hall receives the 2000 Marks and Spencer Organic Grower of The Year award

28 of 34

School visit 1

On the 23rd September 2008, a party of children from a prize winning school visited the farm. They picked apples in the concept orchard, watched the hop harvest, experienced the packhouse and tasted apples, pears and apple juice.

29 of 34

School Visit 2

On the 23rd September 2008, a party of children from a prize winning school visited the farm. They picked apples in the concept orchard, watched the hop harvest, experienced the packhouse and tasted apples, pears and apple juice.

30 of 34

School visit 3

On the 23rd September 2008, a party of children from a prize winning school visited the farm. They picked apples in the concept orchard, watched the hop harvest, experienced the packhouse and tasted apples, pears and apple juice.

31 of 34

School visit 4

On the 23rd September 2008, a party of children from a prize winning school visited the farm. They picked apples in the concept orchard, watched the hop harvest, experienced the packhouse and tasted apples, pears and apple juice.

32 of 34

School visit 5

On the 23rd September 2008, a party of children from a prize winning school visited the farm. They picked apples in the concept orchard, watched the hop harvest, experienced the packhouse and tasted apples, pears and apple juice. They took a box of Bramley apples back to school with them and created a wonderful apple crumble!

33 of 34

Award

On Saturday 20th September 2008, Sainsburys fruit technician Theresa Huxley, grower Peter Hall and OrchardWorld MD Mark Culley received the prestigeous Norah Stucken award at the Institute of Horticulture AGM for The Organic Concept Orchard

34 of 34

Media Gallery

Concept 1

Concept 2

Concept 3

Concept 4

Concept 5

Concept 6

Concept 7

Concept 8

Concept 9

Concept 10

Concept 11

Sunset

Seed strips

Seed strips

Seed strips

Seed strips

Hops

Hops

Hops

A Royal visit

Predators

Snow

Hedge laying

Hedge laying

Blossom

Underlyn

Three Generations

Awards

School visit 1

School Visit 2

School visit 3

School visit 4

School visit 5

Award