Pommes de Piddington - or Piddington apples
Background
How it all began
Our homes sit quietly amongst hundreds of fruit trees in our gardens, our orchards and our hedgerows. Most of these trees were here well before we arrived. Nearly all of them will remain long after our time.
'Pommes de Piddington' is a growing group of villagers, many of whom have their own fruit trees and are interested in the care of these trees, and the planting of more - particularly the historic and traditional varieties that have flourished in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire in former times. Furthermore we would like to encourage the widest possible use of the fruit grown in the village.
Together we have talked about a number of ideas for the future, including the following:
More often than not our discussions would start ‘Next year we should think about …’
In September 2015, with fruit already falling from the trees, we felt that we couldn’t let another season escape. We decided to ‘give it a go!’
'Pommes de Piddington' is a growing group of villagers, many of whom have their own fruit trees and are interested in the care of these trees, and the planting of more - particularly the historic and traditional varieties that have flourished in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire in former times. Furthermore we would like to encourage the widest possible use of the fruit grown in the village.
Together we have talked about a number of ideas for the future, including the following:
- A village census of fruit trees and their varieties
- Shared orchard ladders and fruit picking
- Cider making
- Piddington Apple Juice
- A Piddington Apple Day
- A village apple press
More often than not our discussions would start ‘Next year we should think about …’
In September 2015, with fruit already falling from the trees, we felt that we couldn’t let another season escape. We decided to ‘give it a go!’
First steps
We decided that our mission should be to encourage a wide participation in the village. Future events might include a fully publicised Piddington Apple Day (or days) when we can embrace apple pressing for cider and for juicing, an apple pie competition, apple pie eating competition, pear pressing, best pear, maybe juice pasteurising, apple bobbing and whatever else villagers can think of.
We did, however, want to make a start in autumn 2015, with modest ambitions to learn as we go along and contain the news of any embarrassing mishaps to a limited number of ‘hard core’ enthusiasts.
The outcome – Piddington’s first Apple Day was held at the village hall on Halloween, Saturday 31st October 2015. Our modest ambitions were exceeded. Our first initiative - to get our own Piddington Blend Apple and Apple and Pear Juice to market - was a huge success, with stocks selling well at The Pantry markets and at the village Pop-Up Pubs.
We did, however, want to make a start in autumn 2015, with modest ambitions to learn as we go along and contain the news of any embarrassing mishaps to a limited number of ‘hard core’ enthusiasts.
The outcome – Piddington’s first Apple Day was held at the village hall on Halloween, Saturday 31st October 2015. Our modest ambitions were exceeded. Our first initiative - to get our own Piddington Blend Apple and Apple and Pear Juice to market - was a huge success, with stocks selling well at The Pantry markets and at the village Pop-Up Pubs.
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Next steps
The next step was to investigate the possibility of using some of Piddington's apple juice to make cider.
And so it was that, one September evening, under cover of approaching darkness, three members of Piddington’s Apple Cider Expeditionary Force set out on a fact-finding mission to Long Crendon.
We met Tim Soar, master cider maker, in the Eight Bells, consumed one or two glasses of his excellent cider and rapidly developed ideas and enthusiasm for our own Piddington pressing. We also visited his cider making operation at the very impressive Long Crendon Manor and agreed that in no way will we be ending up in competition!
Tim was very supportive of our thoughts on ‘giving it a go’ and was prepared to lend us his old crusher and press for a day for a very modest fee of buying some of his cider. (You may have sampled a glass or two at the September Pop-Up Pub in the village hall.)
And so the Piddington Cider Alchemists (and Friends) came into existence.
And so it was that, one September evening, under cover of approaching darkness, three members of Piddington’s Apple Cider Expeditionary Force set out on a fact-finding mission to Long Crendon.
We met Tim Soar, master cider maker, in the Eight Bells, consumed one or two glasses of his excellent cider and rapidly developed ideas and enthusiasm for our own Piddington pressing. We also visited his cider making operation at the very impressive Long Crendon Manor and agreed that in no way will we be ending up in competition!
Tim was very supportive of our thoughts on ‘giving it a go’ and was prepared to lend us his old crusher and press for a day for a very modest fee of buying some of his cider. (You may have sampled a glass or two at the September Pop-Up Pub in the village hall.)
And so the Piddington Cider Alchemists (and Friends) came into existence.
Where next?
The Piddington Apples project has sparked villagers' interest, and lots of people are keen to help with the production of the juice and curious about the progress of the cider. So we'll definitely continue with it for the foreseeable future, and relate our adventures on these pages.
You can follow the cider-making process in detail here.
You can see upcoming events here.
And you can see what we get up to on Apple Day here.
Finally, if you'd like to help increase the number of fruit trees in the village, you can find some helpful information here.
You can follow the cider-making process in detail here.
You can see upcoming events here.
And you can see what we get up to on Apple Day here.
Finally, if you'd like to help increase the number of fruit trees in the village, you can find some helpful information here.
Further information
If you have any questions, any ideas or would just like to get involved please contact David Cook at Gwith Cottage 01844 238368 or david.gwithcott@btinternet.com