Sandford Orchards team up with top scientists to study apple trees

Award-winning cider maker, Sandford Orchards, has partnered with leading scientists from Bristol University to identify and preserve ancient apple varieties across the UK. 

After a compelling small scale trial, Sandford Orchards has tendered for and won a competitive bid to receive a grant from DEFRA to grow this research and they are now leading the way nationally, including heading up a project at RHS Rosemoor. 

Said Barny Butterfield, who is Chief Cidermaker at Sandford Orchards: “Of course, apples are at the heart of everything that we do. Our cider mill is the oldest working cider mill in the entire UK and some of our orchards are centuries old. 

"We take our stewardship of these precious natural wonders very seriously indeed and we're obviously delighted to be unlocking some of the secrets of these and other orchards that have long been forgotten about.

"This ground breaking research aims to fingerprint thousands of apple trees in order to locate and propagate unique and threatened varieties.”

Sandford Orchards will work closely with Keith Edwards, Professor of Crop Genetics at Bristol University to identify and map the apple varieties. 

By punching a minute hole in leaves from individual trees, his team is able to collect samples for DNA testing, while geographically tagging the particular tree using the What3Words geo-positioning system. His team will spend the spring and summer taking DNA samples from thousands of apple trees and the aim is to share the results of the project by next autumn.

The research isn't limited to Sandford Orchards' own apple trees, as the team hopes to gain a broad national picture. RHS Rosemoor has already signed up to the project and Barny and Professor Edwards will be sampling their Devon Collection of apples as part of the research project, too.

Lawrence Weston, RHS Rosemoor Professional Work Placement Student from RHS Rosemoor said: “Orchards are ecologically essential to Britain as oases for wildlife and a fantastic nectar source for pollinators. 

"Traditional orchards have severely declined since 1900 and in the last three years alone the UK has lost 1,000 acres of orchard, which not only has a significant impact on wildlife but affects the diversity of the UK's apples. RHS Rosemoor's Devon Collection orchard is dedicated to conserving rare regional apple cultivars and this research will help shape our plans for the future.”

Barny continued: “By mapping apple trees we'llbe able to preserve them for generations to come. This information will help us plan for diversity and climate-resilience in our orchards and secure many more centuries of cider enjoyment. 

"You actually only need one apple tree to propagate a whole new orchard so once we've identified key varieties that should be increased, we can start planning for the future. The outcome can only be positive for the environment and for cider-lovers.”

For further information on Sandford Orchards please visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk, follow Sandford Orchards on X, Facebook and Instagram.

Sandford Orchards Collaborates With Moons Cider to Launch Orchard Moon

Devon's Sandford Orchards, is thrilled to launch, in partnership with Moons Cider, Orchard Moon (ABV 6.5%), a collaboration cider celebrating the best off the West Country. It's a rewarding, full-bodied tasty cider and is available from www.sandfordorchards.co.uk as well as selected retail outlets (RRP £35.00 for 12 x 500ml bottles).

Says Barny Butterfield, Chief Cidermaker at Sandford Orchards: “Moons Cider, from Somerset, was the winner of our 2022 Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards. 

"Part of their prize was to work on a collaboration cider with us and I'm obviously delighted to see this come to fruition. Tom Moon worked closely with our head cider maker, Andy May, using the best apples from both counties to create Orchard Moon.”

Created using Yarlington Mill apples from Somerset and Brown's apples from Devon, Orchard Moon (ABV 6.5%) is a luscious and juicy cider. 

It has deep aromatics and complexity from Yarlington Mill, complemented by the crisp, green apple zing of Brown's, which combine to produce a full-bodied cider with a light sparkle and medium dry finish.

Andy May, Head Cider Maker at Sandford Orchards comments:”Tom was a very worthy winner of the Breakthrough Cider Awards. It was great to be able to share my knowledge and experience with him in blending Orchard Moon. It's a combination of two of my favourite apple varieties, which really represent everything great about West Country cider.”

Tom Moon, owner of Moons Cider said: “I was unsure about creating a medium/dry cider. I was concerned it might be too dry and challenging with the single varieties we were using but it was great to work with Andy, as he made sure to balance the strengths of both so that they complemented each other perfectly. We're excited by the final blend and think this is a cider people will enjoy and keep coming back to.”

Barny continues: ”We set up the Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards in 2019 to celebrate and support excellent whole juice cider producers from around the UK to help secure the future of real British cider. Winners of these awards benefit from priceless help on the journey including the chance to work with us on a collaboration cider.”

He adds:” Tom Moon has been making cider for more than ten years, having started as a teenager. When he won the award, he was producing around 10,000 litres of cider on his own whilst juggling his main job as a builder. We think Moons has what it takes to become a very successful business and are delighted to play our part in supporting Tom to achieve that.”

Founded in 2002, independent, family-owned Sandford Orchards is based in Crediton, Mid Devon in the oldest working cider mill in the UK. The area has long been known as one of the most fertile parishes in all of Britain, both for its grazing and ability to grow apples. Crediton sits in the lee of the moors, so receives the right amount of rain and the right units of heat in summer.

Sandford Orchards takes a fresh, natural and low impact approach to producing cider. Combining tradition and innovation, Sandford Orchards produces an award-winning range of core session, traditional, fine and fruit ciders.

For further information on Sandford Orchards please visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk, follow Sandford Orchards on X, Facebook and Instagram. 

For learn more about Moons Cider please visit www.moonscider.co.uk and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Sandford Orchards' Devon Red Cider Wins Best Drink Product at Food Magazine Reader Awards

Sandford Orchards is thrilled to announce its Devon Red Cider was recently voted 'Best Drink Product' by the readers of Food Magazine. 

Said Barny Butterfield, Chief Cidermaker at Sandford Orchards: “We're absolutely thrilled to win this award. We've always thought our Devon Red was a pretty special drink but to win this accolade confirms the food and drink-loving public thinks so too. 

"We were up against some tough competition, as the South West is home to a host of fantastic independent drinks businesses, which makes the win even more prestigious.” 

The Food Magazine Reader Awards have championed the South West's best independent food and drink businesses for almost a decade. The Awards are an opportunity for readers to celebrate their favourite indie venues and products. Over 100,000 votes were cast over two rounds of voting across 13 categories this year. The winners were announced at a ceremony at Cornwall's Nancarrow Farm on May 15. (EDITOR: My birthday!) 

Devon Red is a naturally tasty and utterly delicious, fresh apple cider made from apples grown and pressed in Devon. It's available to purchase from www.sandfordorchards.co.uk, plus other select retailers across the UK.

Founded in 2002, independent, family-owned Sandford Orchards is based in Crediton, which is in Mid Devon in the UKs oldest working cider mill. The area has long been known as one of the most fertile parishes in all of Britain, both for its grazing and ability to grow apples. Crediton sits in the lee of the moors, so receives the right amount of rain and the right units of heat in summer.

Sandford Orchards takes a fresh, natural and low impact approach to producing cider. Combining tradition and innovation, Sandford Orchards produces an award-winning range of core session, traditional, fine and fruit ciders.

For further information on Sandford Orchards please visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk, follow Sandford Orchards on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Sandford Orchards takes a low impact approach to producing cider. What does this actually mean? How does it work?

Their orchards act as carbon sinks, promote soil health and support biodiversity

Their apples are all grown within a 20 mile radius of the cider works

Their by-products are bio-converted locally into natural green gas and CO2, which is used to carbonate their ciders

They use locally coppiced regenerating woodlands for fuel for heating water and have installed solar panels which produce 25% of their required electricity

They are working towards having all their company vehicles charged by renewable power

They use natural lighting, rainwater harvested from their roofs and insulation to reduce their energy requirements

Their cider is produced using filtration and cold sterilisation and without the need for boiling ingredients.

West Country Drinkers Make Cider Their Favourite Pint

For the very first time since records began, cider has jumped to the top spot in the South-West as the region's best-selling draught pint.

Thatchers Gold, carefully crafted at Myrtle Farm in Somerset, has overtaken all draught beer and draught lagers to become the best-selling pint across the entire South-West. 

An incredible 15.2 million pints of Gold were poured in 2022.

Whilst many might find it surprising cider wasn't already the number one choice given the well-known cider loving nature of the West Country, analyst CGA has revealed that until now, no cider has ever sold enough to overtake a beer or lager into the number one position in any region in the UK. Now Thatchers Gold can take the accolade for the first time, here in the South-West!

The family run cider maker, Thatchers,  actually has two of its best-selling ciders in the top ten LAD (long alcoholic drinks) in the South-West with its cloudy apple cider, Thatchers Haze, at number 8.

The brand at number 2 in the South-West is Carling.

So how has Thatchers Gold succeeded in becoming the West Country's favourite pint?

Martin Thatcher is the fourth generation of the Thatcher family to lead the cider making business, which now sells its flagship brand Thatchers Gold, to countries all over the world.

“Drinkers across the globe love Thatchers Gold – but there's absolutely no doubt that here in the West Country it's extra special! One in every two pints of apple cider poured in the West Country is a Gold.”

Thatchers Gold was first produced at Myrtle Farm some twenty years ago, and since then has seen consistent growth not just in the South-West but across the UK, sold on draught in pubs and bars, as well as glass bottles and cans with high street retailers. In fact, it has grown more than any other apple cider over the last three years helping Thatchers become the UK's second largest cider maker.  

“Its appeal starts right here at Myrtle Farm,” says Martin, “where we craft Gold with the very best tasting apples. We have a saying that the best cider starts in the orchard, and that's exactly the case with Gold.

“The recipe hasn't changed at all over the years – when we first produced Gold we knew that we had struck on the perfect balance of fruitiness, tannin, sweetness and acidity. So our cider makers continue to make Gold in the same way as we did 20 years ago, and with a brilliant team effort from everyone at Myrtle Farm, we continue to reach new audiences who love a beautifully refreshing pint.”