According to the Met Office, this summer is looking to rank among the UK’s warmest summers on record, where June and July have delivered consistently above-average temperatures. We have witnessed this in Staffordshire and at the orchard.

The warm summer also followed a dry spring (the driest spring in more than 100 years!). And this spring our region has been especially dry. Our region has only had 58% of the seasonal rainfall.

However, we have had more than average sunshine and the apples are already turning a lovely red. It looks like the harvest will be early this year.

This year we have been out watering the trees manually! Hopefully this is enough to save the crop and to make sure we have sweet and juicy fruit. Like all growers and farmers, we are watching the weather forecasts, eagerly awaiting rain (but not too much …………………..) So, fingers crossed!