Foxwhelp. Michelin. Dabinett, Yarlington Mill, Hereford Redstreak. They sound like a found poem, these apple varieties Denis Gwatkin points out in his soft burr, one unsprayed tree at a time. "No chemicals. The sheep graze and fertilise the orchard." His eyes are kind beneath lively russet brows. The bark is lichened; a blackbird is fussing in the undergrowth. The fruit is small, green and cool, though it's a hot day, and the hills beyond this leafy shade are blue.
Despite the merry flags and bustle at Gwatkin Red Cow, Denis's restaurant at Moorhampton Park Farm - where he's greeted every customer, the chef, labourers and each Ryeland sheep and Hereford calf there's a tranquillity in this orchard. I'm also sensing a gentle wisdom in Denis that comes as no surprise: I'm halfway through a relaxed cycle journey around Herefordshire's mild west, and I've already discovered that cidermakers in these parts are as passionate about their landscape and community as they are about their drink.
Hilary Engel discovered a love of cider making after escaping from London to Fair Oak Farm
CIder circuits
I'm cycling Porter's Perfection, one of three cider circuits developed for Visit Herefordshire over the past few years. Each showcases a section of this bucolic county's loveliest villages, pubs, orchards and cidermakers via lanes suited to bicycles - e-bikes for hill-averse cyclists like me. The idea is to allow you to appreciate the sights, sounds and smells of cider country while traversing roads never meant for modern cars. If you have dodgy knees, or are keen to indulge in the local adult apple juice as you go (remember, it's illegal to cycle while under the influence), Visit Herefordshire also promotes cider bus routes.
Dore Abbey, established in 1147, is now a spectacular parish church
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Guilt-Free Meat? - Should the world stop eating meat to tackle the climate crisis? Chris Baraniuk meets an experimental farmer who says we don't all have to become vegetarians
Should the world stop eating meat to tackle the climate crisis? Chris Baraniuk meets an experimental farmer who says we don't all have to become vegetarians. Livestock farming around the world is facing scrutiny because of its greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, the sector contributes somewhere between 11.1% and 19.6% of total emissions. Meat production is roughly twice as bad as the production of plant-based food, according to some analyses. And beef is the worst of all. Study after study has suggested that, in order to curtail the devastating effects of climate change, we ought to shift to a diet containing less meat - or even go vegetarian or vegan.
Discover Cider Country - Explore mellow golden countryside, pedalling between medieval villages, historic inns and fruitful orchards, on a delightful Herefordshire Cider Circuit adventure with Julie Brominicks
Explore mellow golden countryside, pedalling between medieval villages, historic inns and fruitful orchards, on a delightful Herefordshire Cider Circuit adventure with Julie Brominicks. I'm cycling Porter's Perfection, one of three cider circuits developed for Visit Herefordshire over the past few years. Each showcases a section of this bucolic county's loveliest villages, pubs, orchards and cidermakers via lanes suited to bicycles - e-bikes for hill-averse cyclists like me. The idea is to allow you to appreciate the sights, sounds and smells of cider country while traversing roads never meant for modern cars. If you have dodgy knees, or are keen to indulge in the local adult apple juice as you go (remember, it's illegal to cycle while under the influence), Visit Herefordshire also promotes cider bus routes.
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Pumpkin patches
Find the perfect jack-o'-lantern for Halloween at a pick-your-own pumpkin patch. Some are simple affairs in tranquil countryside; others offer activities ranging from ghost trains to spooky mazes.
