Drought leaves Somerset cider orchards facing one of smallest harvests ever
A long, hot summer has devastated Somerset's cider apple crop, with some orchards yielding nothing and fears of a record low harvest.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Somerset's cider orchards are facing one of their worst harvests on record after a prolonged drought left many trees bare of fruit. Despite appearing green and healthy from a distance, closer inspection reveals a stark shortage of apples, prompting warnings of a significant cider shortage.
In one orchard, the grower reported that a crop which normally produces 20 to 30 tonnes will yield nothing this year. "We are going to be getting nothing," he said. "We're not even going to bring the harvester in. Anything that falls will go to the sheep." The trees, some planted by his grandfather, have been passed down through generations, and few can remember a year as dry as this one.
Other growers are reporting similar losses. One supplier who normally produces 200 tonnes is down to about 30, while another who usually harvests 150 tonnes is also down to around 30. The scale of the shortfall has raised concerns that this could be one of the smallest cider harvests ever recorded.
In a valley outside Bath, another orchard shows the same pattern. The grower, who has been making cider there for over two decades, said he had never seen conditions so dry. Even the man who planted the orchards around 2000 has said he has never experienced anything like it.
However, not all orchards are empty. Near Shepton Mallet, one orchard has an abundance of apples, but they are not fit for cider making. The harvester has been brought out three weeks early, but the fruit is unripe and already rotting. "It's unripe, and it's already rotted before we've even started," said the grower. "The trees are just stressed. They just can't hold on to it any longer, and so they've just dumped it early."
The early shedding of fruit is a sign of stress, and there are worries that repeated hot summers could push the trees into further decline. As one expert put it, "If we keep getting these hot summers, these trees are going further and further into decline and struggling more and more different ways."
Somerset's most famous harvest has been hit hard by the long, hot summer, and the full impact on cider production may not be known until the pressing season begins.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| Apple growers reported severe harvest losses, with some orchards losing their entire crop and others seeing large reductions. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focuses on the human and economic impact of the drought on Somerset's cider industry, using vivid on-the-ground examples from multiple orchards. It contrasts orchards with no fruit at all with one that has fruit but of poor quality, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem. The tone is concerned but factual, with a clear warning about future climate risks.
- “We would normally like to see about 20 to 30 tonnes from this orchard, but we are going to be getting nothing.”
- “It's unripe, and it's already rotted before we've even started, so there's little use to us there.”
- “If we keep getting these hot summers, these trees are going further and further into decline and struggling more and more different ways.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.