Chegworth Valley

Bearing in mind it may be some time before we come round to the fact that not all apples are round and shiny, there are a new breed of growers that have the value-added product in mind, taking full advantage of the flavours for which fruits were grown and not their looks.

David and Linda Deme bought Water Lane Farm in 1983, which was then a dairy farm and owned by Leeds Castle. Over the next ten years, they planted 30,000 apple and pear trees, including some rare varieties, and in 1990 added raspberries and strawberries, and other soft fruits.