From the Daily Telegraph, 21 June 2008:
Tree cheers for a blooming good idea
By Matt Ford



Nestling in the embrace of a horizon marked by the gently undulating silhouette of the Marcle Ridge in Herefordshire is Dragon Orchard. Its trees are like candy-pink candelabra, heavy with blossom, and they could light the way to a revival of British fruit farming. Traditional orchards across the country have been grubbed out in their hundreds in the past few decades, changing our landscape and placing many traditional varieties on the endangered list. But here on this small, 22-acre farm they are actually planting more trees. And scores of people are coming from as far away as London, Manchester and Suffolk to help them do it, thanks to Cropsharers, an innovative scheme that offers people the chance to share in the life of the orchard in return for an annual subscription. Norman Stanier returned to take over running the family farm with his wife Ann in 1993 after living away for some time. "I'd always wanted to come back," he says. "The farm has been in my family for more than 70 years." But he returned to a business with an uncertain future. Although Herefordshire was once famous for its orchards, much of that has now gone and the apple business seemed to be in almost terminal decline. "We were luckier than most around here, in that we still have five active fruit farms in the village," says Norman. "But I really wasn't sure how long that would last." It was clear from the start that to succeed they would have to find a new way to manage the land. "We sold to the wholesale market for several years, but they were taking less and less," says Ann. "They could get cheaper apples from abroad. "The orchard was fast becoming a millstone around our necks and we were even starting to take out trees." But the Staniers were determined not to let the family farm die. "We just thought: 'We've got to do something'," says Ann. "We knew we couldn't grub up this beautiful landscape." They looked at the options open to them, and then Ann had the brilliant idea of Cropsharers. This would go on to change their fortunes, just as farmers' networks have done for many others, by cutting out the middlemen and putting Dragon Orchard directly in contact with their customers. The Cropsharers scheme was launched in 2001. In return for paying £300 per year, Cropsharers can visit the farm for four weekends and take part in seasonal activities, including harvest and wassailing. They also receive 60lbs of cooking apples, 60lbs of eating apples, 10lbs of pears, 12 bottles of single-variety apple juice, 12 bottles of table cider and chutneys and preserves. After the Staniers took their idea to various food fares, people were signing up in their dozens. "The apples we get last us for months," says Pat Walker. "We keep them wrapped up in newspaper in the garage." But it isn't just the fruit that the Cropsharers come for. "Dragon Orchard gives us a connection with rural life," says Dennis. "Just being in this lovely area is wonderful and we have met loads of like-minded people. It's a lot of fun and we've made good friends." The chance to experience a different pace of life has meant that the farm events have become important parts of the Cropsharers' lives. "My husband Bill is a changed person when he comes here," says Sue Martin. "When I ask him what he's going to do when he retires, he says: 'I think I'll just go and work at the orchard.'" For the Staniers, the popularity of Cropsharers has had an equally restorative effect on the health of their farm. "Instead of grubbing up, we've actually been able to plant more trees," says Ann. At the centre of their new orchard - where more than 30 varieties of apple, pear, greengage, plum and quince are growing - is a semi-circular straw ball and lime plaster construction called The Big Hug, which the Cropsharers built in 2006 with the help of local craftsmen. "It's a place to sit and contemplate life, and somewhere to listen to the birds," says Dennis. "And what's most special is that everyone had a hand in it." The success of Cropsharers has led to the creation of the FruitShare scheme, which is a cheaper way to get all of the autumn fruit without having to visit farms. There is also the opportunity to sponsor a tree in an orchard, for those who want to create a lasting link with a particular farm. "It's wonderful because the girls grow at the same rate as the tree," says Chrissy Burnett, who sponsored a Red Devil apple tree for her two granddaughters. "We take pictures of them next to it and it gives us a record of their childhood and a link to the landscape we all love."