It is acknowledged among those who KNOW that Somerset prodces the best cider apples such as Yarlington Mill, Harry Masters Jersey, Dabinett, Crimson King, Kingston Black and many others. As I said to Mr Temperley last June at the Bath and West exhibition, I intend to take some cider from Hampshire made from Somerset apples to the show next year.  (PS I didn't, it wasn't good enough due to dull weather)I was sorry to say that driving around Somerset last week I saw many fewer orchards and less cider than I saw cycling around Normandy 3 weeks earlier. This is a shame and there is only one way to remedy it

'Drink lads drink, and see that ye do not spill
For if ye do ye must drink two, it is your master's will'



and here is a picture taken in September 2004 of sheep grazing under the cider apple trees at Burrow Hill orchard where Julian Temperley makes excellent cider and his unique Somerset Royal cider apple brandy. I have some pictures taken later in 2004 of the pressing at Burrow Hill, plus some pics from Wilkin's cider house at Mudgely and the Abbey orchard at Glastonbury but seem to have mislaid them-first rule of digital photography LABEL IT, 2nd rule FILE IT, 3rd rule COPY IT I'll put them up when I find them, meanwhile I have been putting more orchard picturtures up. Return to menu, click on Normandy, then scroll down that page for pics from Cherbourg to St Malo cycle tour. Also from the menu you can click on 'other people's orchards' there are some pictures and text. If you have any nice orchard pics but no site of your own, email me on hayes373(at)btinternet(dot)com, and I may be able to put your pictures up, especially if it's your home orchard and they#re noce pictures. Don't send any pictures initially, text only.



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