The oldest mature trees in this traditional style orchard are representative of a typical early 1900s commercial orchard, probably within a mixed farm set up, grown on standard rootstocks resulting in large, old fashioned trees. Whilst many of the trees have now gone, it is still possible to see the remains of the original planting grid with its distinct rows of a single variety of trees.

The orchard represents a piece of local history, showing how orchards were planted and managed over 100 years ago, when widely spaced standard trees were carefully harvested using traditional fruit-picking ladders.

What Makes a Traditional Orchard?

Traditional orchards:

• have widely spaced fruit trees
• grow in permanent grassland
• often include old or veteran trees.

They differ from modern orchards which have dense rows and intensive management.

Traditional orchards are one of the UK’s most biodiverse habitats, supporting thousands of species of plants, invertebrates, birds and mammals.

“An iconic part of the landscape, one third of the UK’s traditional orchards are in the Three Counties.” – Three Counties Traditional Orchard Project

Orchard Varieties Through Time

This orchard has evolved over more than a century. Its fruit varieties reflect changing tastes, farming practices, and recent efforts to conserve traditional orchards.

Early 1900s — The Original Orchard

The orchard was originally planted in the early 20th century with just five apple varieties, most of them cooking apples. At that time people ate far more cooked apples than today, in pies, puddings and preserves.

Four of the five varieties were culinary apples, showing how important cooking apples once were in the market.

Original varieties:

• Grenadier – early-season cooking apple
• Worcester Pearmain – early to mid-season eating apple
• Lord Derby – mid-season cooking apple
• Newton Wonder – mid to late-season cooking apple
• Crimson Bramley – late-season cooking apple

These varieties ripened in succession through the season. Entire rows could be harvested at once, producing enough fruit to fill a lorry for market and making the orchard commercially viable.

Harvest sequence
Grenadier → Worcester Pearmain → Lord Derby → Newton Wonder → Crimson Bramley

2015 — Cider Apples Reintroduced

In 2015 new trees were planted through the Malvern Hills National Landscape Three Counties Traditional Orchard Project to replace lost trees and restore orchard diversity.

New varieties included:

• Three Counties
• Dabinett
• Kingston Black
• Harry Masters Jersey
• Yarlington Mill

The first and last rows in the orchard are the Three Counties variety, developed by researchers at Long Ashton Research Station and named for our three counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.

2026 — Orchard Expansion

Further restoration took place in 2026 with support from the Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme.

Tree guards were replaced and additional trees were planted to fill gaps (known as ‘gapping up’):

• Broxwood Foxwhelp
• Harry Masters Jersey

Did You Know? — Apple Types

Apples may be classified as Sweet, Sharp, Bittersweet or Bittersharp depending on their levels of tannin and acidity.

The cider apples varieties planted in this orchard were chosen to complement the existing sharp cooking apples, allowing a well-balanced cider to be made from the range of trees here.

Sharp: Grenadier | Lord Derby | Newton Wonder | Crimson Bramley

Sweet: Worcester Pearmain

Bittersweet: Three Counties | Dabinett | Harry Masters Jersey | Yarlington Mill

Bittersharp: Kingston Black |  Broxwood Foxwhelp

Three Counties Shows

You can sample and buy craft cider by visiting Three Counties cider makers’ stands during RHS Malvern Spring Festival, Royal Three Counties Show and Malvern Autumn Show. Cider competitions, tastings and talks are organised by Three Counties Cider and Perry Association. The Orchard and Hopyard Pavilion, with its comprehensive displays of perry pears and apples, provides an excellent opportunity to learn directly from experts at Malvern Autumn Show.

Find out more: 

Three Counties Shows – threecounties.co.uk

Three Counties Cider and Perry Association – tccpa.co.uk

How You Can Help

You can support apple heritage in several ways:

• make a donation towards maintenance of our collections.
• try some cider made by Three Counties craft cider makers. Take part in tastings and talks at our shows such as Malvern Autumn Show
• join an orchard group and volunteer at a community orchard
• attend a course in orchard management and plant local apple trees
• take part in orchard-based customs and seasonal events such as ‘wassailing’

 With thanks to

Funding from Malvern Hills National Landscape: malvernhills-nl.org.uk