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New cider-making centre gaining international reputation
14 January 2009
Would-be cider and perry makers from around the world have
travelled to Gloucestershire to learn the ancient skills at the new
Orchard Centre in Hartpury.
Week-long specialist courses have attracted students from as far
afield as Australia and India as well as from around the British
Isles, and one-day courses for amateurs attracted a stronger
Gloucestershire representation.
Bookings are now being taken for courses throughout 2009 - the
first courses, in April, are already selling out. Details can be
found at www.tasteandexplore.co.uk
The Orchard Centre is part of the Collection of Historic
Orcharding Trees (COHORT) project - a village initiative run by the
Hartpury Historic Land and Buildings Trust, aiming to preserve
Gloucestershire's orcharding heritage.
The new purpose-built Orchard Centre and surrounding orchards
are being developed thanks to almost £100,000 from Gloucestershire
Rural Renaissance, which helped draw in a further £234,000 from the
Heritage Lottery Fund and £50,000 from the Gloucestershire
Environmental Trust.
Jim Chapman from the Trust, who has spent over ten years
creating an orchard of more than 100 different varieties of perry
pear in Hartpury - granted National Collection status - said: "We
were delighted with the response to the first-ever cider and perry
making courses. We appear to have gained an international
reputation as a training centre of quality - even though our
official opening isn't until May!
"The students learn about the heritage, process, equipment and
the selection of fruit for perry and cider making as well as
practical experience in fruit milling, pressing and the preparation
of the juice for fermentation. Provided they can resist the
temptation to sample prematurely, each student should have a gallon
of their own cider next Spring and the knowledge and ability to use
their local fruit in the future."
The absence of Gloucestershire students on the week-long courses
for specialists came as no surprise. "Sadly the tradition of every
Severn Vale and Forest of Dean farm having an orchard to make its
own cider and perry has long passed," said Jim. "We weren't,
therefore, surprised when the week-long specialist course attracted
people from the other side of the world, but no-one from
Gloucestershire. But it underlines the desperate need for this
project.
"A base of enthusiastic amateur producers must first be
established. Utilising the perry pear could be the ideal solution
for local farmers and landowners looking to diversify, or amateur
gardeners looking to save a very special tree."
Work is continuing on the Orchard Centre, which will be formally
opened in May. The courses have also boosted the local economy as
students stay in local bed and breakfasts and inns.
"The Trust remains convinced that today's perry producers still
have a long way to go to achieve the sophisticated product known in
the 18th century, when estates vied with each other to attain
perfection and unscrupulous merchants were able to pass off perry
as wine! Too frequently these days, perry is seen as a rather sweet
form of cider," added Jim.
"The Trust will work with producers to recapture the former
quality, not for deception, but so that perry becomes synonymous
with a high quality local product sought out by visitor and local
alike, as well as the trees remaining an inspiring feature of the
Gloucestershire landscape."
Kate Forrest from Gloucestershire First, which manages the
Gloucestershire Rural Renaissance scheme, said: "We recognise the
economic potential of this sector, so we were delighted to support
this unusual and innovative project to help revive traditional
orcharding skills and fruit production in the Forest of Dean."
The Gloucestershire Rural Renaissance programme, now fully
committed, is investing £8 million in projects across the county to
boost the rural economy and improve access to services. £4 million
of that investment comes from the South West Regional Development
Agency - the largest amount the Agency has invested in any county
across the region to date. The rest comes from the public and
private sectors. For more information, see www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/ruralrenaissance
Ends
For more information, contact Jim Chapman jim.chapman@care4free.net 01531
820088 (day) 01452 700333 (evenings)
Notes to editors:
- The Gloucestershire Rural Renaissance programme is now fully
committed. For press enquiries, contact Beth Whittaker 01453
759675, beth@viva-communications.co.uk or
to find out more about the programme, visit
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/ruralrenaissance
- Gloucestershire First is the county's strategic partnership of
all key public and private sector organisations engaged in economic
development, including Gloucestershire County Council. It works to
encourage an environment in which businesses can flourish and
individuals can achieve their potential. http://www.glosfirst.co.uk/
- The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable
economy, investing to unlock the region's business potential. It
works in partnership with public and private sector organisations
and takes a long term view. It aims to drive up the region's
productivity by giving people the skills they need, encouraging
enterprise, improving infrastructure, regenerating places and
promoting the strengths of the region. For more information,
contact Claire Wickes at the SWRDA on 01392 229389 claire.wickes@southwestrda.org.uk
Beth Whittaker
Director
Viva Communications Limited
T: 01453 75 96 75
M: 07952 37 58 37
W: http://www.viva-communications.co.uk/
Third Party Issuer
Gloucestershire Rural Renaissance