Hampshire's apples: A taste of the county's orchard heritage

October is a special month for apple lovers. As orchards across Hampshire fill with ripe fruit and communities celebrate Apple Day on 21 October, it's the perfect time to explore the county's rich apple-growing heritage. From historic orchards and heritage varieties to locally produced cider and juice, apples have helped shape Hampshire's landscapes, traditions and rural communities for centuries.

Today, apples remain an important part of Hampshire's countryside, connecting people with nature, local food and the changing seasons.

Why do apples thrive in Hampshire?

Hampshire's mild climate and fertile soils create ideal conditions for growing apples. Warm summers, relatively mild winters and well-drained soils help apple trees flourish, producing fruit with excellent flavour and quality.

The county's varied landscape, from the chalk downlands to river valleys and sheltered countryside, provides a range of growing environments that support both traditional and modern orchards.

A long history of apple growing

Apple cultivation in Hampshire has deep historical roots. Evidence suggests that apples have been grown in the county since Roman times, while orchards became an important feature of the rural landscape throughout the medieval period and beyond.

For generations, orchards supplied local communities with fresh fruit, cider and preserves. Many traditional orchards also became valuable habitats for wildlife, supporting pollinating insects, birds and mammals among their blossom-filled trees.

Today, efforts to protect and restore traditional orchards are helping to preserve this important part of Hampshire's heritage for future generations.

Community orchards for people and wildlife

Community orchards are helping to keep Hampshire's apple-growing traditions alive while creating valuable spaces for people and wildlife. At Staunton Country Park, visitors can explore the community orchard in the walled garden that contributes to the park's rich historic landscape and biodiversity. Meanwhile, the community orchard at Royal Victoria Country Park provides a place where visitors can connect with our county’s fruit-growing heritage while enjoying the changing seasons.

These orchards do more than grow fruit, they support pollinators, provide habitats for wildlife and offer opportunities to keep our heritage varieties growing.

The Hampshire Forest Partnership is building on this work by supporting the creation and improvement of community orchards across the county, in partnership with parish councils, community groups and other organisations. By helping more communities plant and care for fruit trees, the partnership is creating welcoming green spaces, strengthening local connections and providing further benefits for pollinators and wildlife.

Celebrating Hampshire's apple varieties

Hampshire is home to a wide range of apple varieties, from popular favourites to rare heritage fruits. Historic local varieties such as the Hambledon Deux Ans remain closely associated with the county, while well-known apples including Bramley and Egremont Russet continue to be grown in Hampshire orchards.

Each variety has its own character. Some are sweet and juicy for eating fresh, while others are ideal for cooking, juicing or cider making.

Discover Hampshire's orchard landscape

Whether you're picking apples from a local orchard, enjoying a glass of Hampshire cider, or taking part in Apple Day celebrations, Hampshire's apples offer a connection to centuries of farming, nature and local culture.

As interest in local food and nature-friendly farming continues to grow, Hampshire's orchards are once again being celebrated for the important role they play in supporting biodiversity, local communities and the county's rich rural heritage.

Want to help contribute to community orchards or get involved in planting more trees? For more information visit Hampshire Forest Partnership.