In The Orchards Of Kent
BOOKING NOW THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER
When the green shoots are sprouting and the leaves unfurling, who can resist an excursion to view the cherry blossom at the National Collection of Fruit Trees at Brogdale in Kent? This is the largest collection of fruit in the world – as the guides proudly remind you – with two hundred and eighty-five types of cherry among over two thousand varieties of fruit, including apples, pears, plums, currants, quinces and medlars.
As if this were not remarkable enough, I was informed that this particular corner of Kent – at the edge of Faversham – offers the very best conditions in the world for growing cherries. They may have originated in the forests of Central Asia, travelling east and west along the Silk Road before they were introduced by order of Henry VIII nearby at Sittingbourne, but here – I was assured – they have found their ultimate home.
The constitution of the soil in Kent is ideal for cherries and the temperate climate, in which the tender saplings are sheltered from the wind by long hedges of hornbeam, produces a delicacy of flavour in the ripe fruit which cannot by matched by the climactic extremes of the Mediterranean.
It was with these thoughts in mind that I advanced up the track, lined with decorative blossom in those livid pink tones so beloved of mid-twentieth century town planners, before turning the corner of a long hedge to confront the orchard of cherries. There are two specimens of each variety regimented in lines that stretch into the distance. The cherry trees are upon parade, awaiting your inspection and eager to display their flamboyant regalia.
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Sweet .
Reminds me of my days at Oaklands College as a student in Hertfordshire.
We had rows like that in triage .
Cox’s Orange Pippin , Egremont Russet , Worcester Permian .
I used to be surrounded by such trees, where I live in rural Kent. Mostly, they had replaced the earlier hop gardens, leaving only oasthouses behind.
Now they are themselves going, to be replaced by extensive vineyards as the climate becomes steadily more welcoming. So the world turns!
I love to see the blossom trees emerge in Springtime, so pretty – especially in London’s busy city streets – the sight transports one’s thoughts instantly like a breath of fresh air to healthy greener pastures.
Such a shame on the last comment tht they will be replaced by vines!
When I see blossom you can’t help smiling
What a wonderful sight. I don’t recall the Cherry trees, but my older brother was a Climber, and would sometimes take me to Harrison’s Rocks in Kent trying to teach me to climb. I remember we’d get the train to either Groombridge or Eridge, and then walk across the Hop fields up to the Rocks. I’m sad to say he never made a climber of me, and I’m still wobbly just on the 2nd step of a ladder!