Five generations have been growing fruit for the last 100 years at this family-run Hampshire farm, which is well on its way to also becoming a major destination for events.
Blackmoor Estate in Selborne has been growing both eating and culinary apples and pears since 1924, more recently expanding into cherries.
In 2022, with William Selborne at the helm, the family started to produce cider and juice from their fruit, handpicking and pressing it on the farm where the cider house is less than a mile away from the orchards.
The annual apple day in October has always been a big draw with fruit fans travelling from miles around, but monthly tap room events to showcase drinks produced on the farm are also gaining in popularity.
The business model is expanding from mainly premium supermarkets to also include refillable juice stations going up within farm shops and cafes around Hampshire, including in Lyndhurst and Romsey.
"We have been running our apple tasting day for over 50 years and this hugely popular free local event held on the second Sunday in October is in aid of local charities and is a rare opportunity for fruit enthusiasts to taste a wide variety of the old an new apple and pear varieties grown at Blackmoor.
"We are building the awareness of Blackmoor Estate as a destination. We have a stall for seasonal fruit but also have cider juice and preserves available to buy from our office. We now hold monthly tap room events open to all, selling all our delicious ciders and juices and with a pizza van for those wishing to make an evening of it."
The estate is also involved in a number of conservation projects including leading the Selborne Landscape Partnership involving 27 neighbouring farmers and land owners managing wildlife in a joined up manner over 5000 hectares of countryside.
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