Article: Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
What better way to celebrate our new website than by offering thanks to all those who have helped and supported us as we’ve traversed the (occasionally) rocky road that has led us to setting up our fruit tree nursery at Tyn y Berllan.
It should go without saying – but we’ll say it anyway – that we couldn’t have done any of it without the love and support of our families, friends and neighbours many of whom clearly felt that we were insane for leaving behind our comfortable lives in the city to attempt to build something together that offered a path less ordinary (and many of whom continue to do so!) – thank you all from the bottom of our hearts – you know who you are.
A special mention, of course, to our daughter Ibby. Like the apple trees, we’ve loved watching you grow. During these past few somewhat tumultuous years we’ve witnessed you throughout it all flower into an amazing young woman, thank you for all your love.
Beyond our immediate circle, we would be remiss in not thanking the legions of good people who have offered us their wisdom, encouragement, and more than a few belly laughs along the way. We know it’s not exactly the done thing to link to other websites – many of whom sell competing products – when setting up your own business presence online, but we figure if you can’t share the love, what’s really the point of any of it?
So, in alphabetical order, here are some of our heroes: the warriors, poets and wild music makers, the reckless faith keepers, and fruit growing friends to whom we offer our deepest gratitude.
Pob Bendith!
To Lydia and Tom, passionate traditional cider makers who helped us to locate those shy, retiring apple varieties that are found only in those hidden away magical orchards they lovingly tend.
Derek and Judy Tolman, whose breadth and depth of fruit growing knowledge is reflected in their wondrous tome. For anyone remotely interested in fruit we would recommend buying one of their exceptional catalogues, now in it’s 7th edition.
The ever optimistic and always encouraging Neil Kingsnorth has been a huge help to us. He has helped and supported us in so many ways for which we will be forever grateful.
For shining the light on Welsh Apples in an engaging and imaginative way in his book ‘Apples of Wales’.
Where we source all of our whisky barrels for fermenting our cider.
Arie and Sam for their sharing of their story of starting up a diverse organic bio-intensive farm in beautiful Ceredigion. An inspiration!
Dinefwr Orchard, Llandeilo
Philip James for your support and encouragement has meant so much to us. Our admiration of the time and energy you and your team put into managing the orchard and the cider club at Dinefwr is boundless.
Dr Danny Thorogood
His knowledge and expertise of apple and pear varieties and their genetic make-up is vast, and he has been a singular help and encouragement for our project. Another advocate of Welsh apples and the cider makers of Wales.
We buy all our rootstock from Frank Matthews and Nick Dunn’s help and advice has been invaluable.
Ian has kept and found many Welsh varieties of fruit trees over the past thirty years, and all lovers of Welsh varieties owe him a debt of gratitude. His inspiring and humorous YouTube films have inspired a generation of grafters and fruit growers.
Eddy, Holly and Emma for their patience and clarity in explaining the arcana of website development to a couple of Luddites. Any failure to follow their expert advice (such as this blog post, no doubt) lies solely with us.
Pontymeddyg Cider
Dilys and Jimmy Whitworth who are so happy to share their cider making expertise with the world. Also, best HACPP ever!
An outstanding group of volunteers who are dedicated to preserving and reviving old varieties of apples and pears from the Welsh Marches and beyond. For their extensive collection and excellent publications.
Joey Hughes, for his engaging talks and workshops on orchard management. A master in the art of restoring, maintaining, and creating orchards in Wales.
The patron saint of organic orcharding, and farming scholar, may he rest in peace. His wonderful publications, The Apple Grower and The Holistic Orchard have been an overarching inspiration to us.
Kevin Garrod for his generosity of spirit, time, knowledge and scions, we thank you. Also, for the huge amount of time and energy you put into helping to run The Welsh Perry and Cider Society.
To all involved in this inspiring project. In particular, we’d like to thank David Thorpe, Tom & Jacqui, Peni Edikar, Lauren & Phil, Paul Hooper. One day soon, we’ll hopefully have one to call our own.
Rachel Holden
For always patiently helping out with Welsh translation.
Tom Sutton
Without Tom and his family’s support this would still be an idea not a reality, we will forever be in your debt.
We owe a special debt of gratitude to Tom for his on the ground help and advice he has given us concerning nursery management. A shining light in organic apple growing.
For their amazing support and training for all those in the Welsh horticulture sector.
Thanks to Jamie for the amazing house and cidery plans and his patience and thoughtfulness in talking through them with us. One day soon!
We use Vigo for all our cider equipment and their friendly advice. A one-stop-shop for all your cider making needs.
Helping to preserve Welsh varieties for future generations.
Bill & Chava have massively influenced and inspired our current trajectory with their fantastic cider and their at-altitude fruit tree nursery in the mountains of Mid Wales.
An amazing organisation raising the profile of real Welsh perry and cider since 2001. To Chris Charters, thank you for allowing us to use some of your images from your extensive Welsh Pomona.
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