Orchard blossom

 

Mid-April and already a couple of the apple trees are in blossom

The Orchard was originally planted with support from Stroud Valleys Project in 2017 with four trees on MM106 rootstock (so 4-5m potential height); a further tree on M9 rootstock (2.5m) was added in 2025. Labels now show the variety, and the  origin and date of each cultivar:

Mid-April 2026

John Standish - a moderately acid dessert apple with crisp, juicy, cream-coloured flesh; originating from Ascot, Berkshire ~1873. Upright growth habit; flowers early May; ready to pick mid-October.

late April 2026

Jenny Lind - a well flavoured dessert/ cooking apple with weeping growth; can also be found in the Museum in the Park Walled Garden. Although associated with Gloucestershire, it is thought to have been raised in Catforth, Lancashire ~1880. Named after a popular Swedish opera singer who made her home in Herefordshire in the late 1800s.

late April 2026

Chaceley Kernel (aka Chatley’s Kernel, Chexley Kernel) - a dessert and cider apple (pick early for latter use) with some russet spots; slightly sharp, crisp, juicy, sweet flesh (again, also at the Museum in the Park Walled Garden). From Chaceley, Gloucestershire/ Worcestershire; the variety became well known ~1890s. Pick in October (September in a warm year) though tends to biennial cropping, stores well.

late April 2026

Kenchy Pippin - a cider apple (also at Museum in the Park Walled Garden Orchard), which originated in Halmore, Berkeley, Gloucestershire.

late April 2026

Ashmead’s Kernel (the small tree in the centre foreground above - donated by Lesley MacKinnon in 2025) - a russet dessert apple with firm, juicy yellowish flesh, and a rich aromatic pear-drop flavour. Gloucester ~1700. Flowers mid-May, and ready to pick early October.

While the last is identified we are unsure which is which amongst the other four, so the labels may swap round later in the year when the fruit should allow us to confirm each variety.