Dragon Orchard wins prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Pomona Award
October 17 2011
Dragon Orchard was this weekend presented with the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Pomona Award from RHS president, Elizabeth Banks.
In 2011 the RHS in conjunction with Herefordshire Year in the Orchard held a competition to determine the best orchards in the county. Entries were received from a large number and wide variety of orchards and these were whittled down to a shortlist of 14. These were visited by a panel of experts including representatives from tree nurseries and wildlife groups, as well as orchards and the environment. The finalists were then judged by RHS apple expert Jim Arbury and the results announced at Hergest Croft, the home of the first ever female president of the RHS, Elizabeth Banks on Sunday October 16th.
When presenting Norman and Ann Stanier of Dragon Orchard with their Silver Gilt medal, Mrs Banks remarked that the orchard was an outstanding example of a family business run with great enthusiasm.
“We’re delighted to receive this recognition from the RHS”, explained orchard owner Ann Stanier, “we take huge pride in running Dragon Orchard in a sustainable manner, maintaining strong community links through our Cropsharers Scheme and with great care for the environment and wildlife within the orchard and its boundaries.”
The orchard grows top quality cider and dessert fruit, welcomes visitors to the orchard and run its own Community Supported Agriculture Scheme and Shop. With its sister company Once Upon A Tree they have developed a fantastic range of apple juice, cider and perry and other produce using the fruit from the orchard.
Dragon Orchard is a great example of a Herefordshire Rural Business that links People, Place and Produce in a creative and innovative way.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
- Dragon Orchard is a small traditional fruit farm that has been tended by the same family for over 80 years.
- The 22 acre orchard is set in the south eastern corner of the rolling Herefordshire countryside, near Ledbury and close to the Malvern Hills.
- Community supported agriculture (CSA) is a partnership between farmers and the local community, providing mutual benefits and reconnecting people to the land where their food is grown. More information can be found on the soil association website www.soilassociation.org
Contact Ann Stanier for more details:
Tel: 01531 670071
Web: www.dragonorchard.co.uk and www.onceuponatree.co.uk
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