Our Paralympian Paradice Gold

One new variety added to the village this winter is Paradice Gold. In 2012 it was chosen by the Paralympic Legacy as a new apple to be planted in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 

We have chosen this variety to celebrate the success of our own rowing Paralympian, Frankie Allen. She won gold in the Paris Paralympics in 2024 and at just 22 is already a 3 times World Champion in the PR3 Mix4 (far right in the photo).

Frankie has just been awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours List 2026 for her services to disability sport and to improving access to sport for young people. Well done Frankie. What wonderful recognition for all your hard work.

Apple Day Sunday 12th October 12-4pm

There was a bumper crop in the village so our Apple Day this year was a huge success. We never take Apple Day for granted. In June we wait for our fruit expert, Paul Chilton, to declare that the crop is sufficiently heavy, the June drop is not significant enough to diminish the crop and the weather conditions are suitable.

• Paul produced his display of over 110 of heritage varieties of apples, all grown in the parish, which was spectacular. It was all laid out in the formal competition format and was stunning,
• We pressed apples for 4 hours! Of course, visitors were able to take juice home.
• Apple tasting - at least 12 different varieties were available to taste and take away.
• The craft cider tasting was very popular too!
• Cakes, tarts, pies, muffins, flapjacks, biscuits all made with apples and all for just a donation kept going for 3 hours! Villagers rise to the challenge of making something made with apples and contributed them to the day.
• Creating the longest peel was fun.
• Children's activities and a playground helped kids to burn off all that sugar.
• And there was great food, tea, coffee!

It took 3 hours to set up and a big team.

Successful scything

My word you are all amazing!!! 

Thanks so much for the brilliant turn out at the scything today. With 14+ people on site we were able to get the whole site scythed and raked up in around 2hrs - a record! 

This job is so important for the ongoing care of the trees. If we don’t cut the grass/wildflowers down like the grazers would, the tree seedlings and brambles would germinate and spread, eventually smothering our fantastic trees. 

In the absence of a couple of long horn cattle, we make an amazing team 

The 2025 crop

We will have a good Apple Day this year. The crop is sufficiently heavy, the June drop was not significant enough to diminish the crop and the survived the rabbits.

However, this year the summer has been so hot and sunny that, as with all farming throughout the country, the apple harvest is 2-3 weeks early. Blossom was full in April rather than mid May and there was maximum fruit set and very little June drop. As a result, and in response to the heat, many of the varieties are dropping early, in particular the Bramley's at the end of August, instead of early October. The apples are very much smaller than usual, they look a bit strange! Many, obviously, can't be eaten but luckily villagers are enjoying picking and eating the early and bigger varieties in the orchard. There is no doubt that climate change is affecting all farming in the UK. 

Phew! That was close

Did you see the apple trees in the orchard wrapped in plastic recently? It wasn't an art installation it was us trying to protect the trees from being eaten by those pesky rabbits. The team did a great job giving each one a wire cage although the damage was significant on one or two trees and we might lose them. Fingers crossed.

 

Celebrating the Queen of the Realm

Some more additions to the apple varieties in Brightwell. Tom Debney kindly dug 6 holes in a glorious orchard in the heart of the village. The orchard can be found on maps dating back to the 1700s. Paul Chilton is the quality controller for the holes!

Described by the growers Frank P Matthews in Worcestershire, Queen of the Realm™ is a very exciting apple, released to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee in 2022. It has a unique appearance of a beautiful purple blushed skin with white undertones, resembling HM The Queen’s resplendent purple robes. The lenticles are prominent giving a slightly freckled appearance. The flesh is white, crunchy, crisp and juicy with sweet, aromatic flavours. Eats beautifully when picked straight from the tree in mid September, or can be stored for a couple of months.

Wassailing the village orchards

The village celebrated a new apple season with a traditional Wassail. Evil spirits were driven away from the trees with gunfire, Robins, the good spirits of the orchards, were tempted to feed in the orchard with bread dipped in cider and hung on branches, the trees were woken up from their winter sleep by beating their trunks and feeding their roots with cider, and everyone celebrated with lambswool, a warmed drink of cider and cooked apple. As each year, the Armaleggan dancers were the highlight of the festivities.

Have a look at Andrew Trythall's fabulous photos of the day