Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Fruit farms, garden centres and vineyards: Brogdale, near Faversham

Kent is called the garden of England and in the warmer south that's where you find the fruit farm, Brogdale and at least four vineyards.

I must admit when driving or as a passenger I'd rather have a bunch of grapes than a glass of wine, and a plate with fruit on it is more family friendly and healthy than one with wine glasses.

We keep being told to eat more fruit, five or seven pieces of fruit or vegetables a day. I'm trying to turn my garden into a fruit growing garden. We've had such success with apples providing fruit either fresh or frozen all year.

For survivialists it seems sensible. The green belt around London is being eroded and farms or farmland disappearing under motorways, car parks, offices, shopping centre and housing. A farm in Harrow is currently under threat. We need to eat more fruit and vegetables to stay healthy as well as exporting more, importing less, and growing enough for our population.

So I've added pretty vines to our small scenario of apple trees which provide pains white apple blossom in spring. Vines are a long term project. Vineyard owners and visitors often say they are growing or bottling for their grandchildren.

Gardens with flowers are great in summer. But what about something you can eat? Here are some suggestions for visits where souvenirs or snacks and drinks might actually contribute to the physical or mental health of all the family.

At a motorway stop service station building entrance leaflet rack I picked up a pretty pink leaflet entitled Gardens of the South FREE MAP and vouchers 2015.
It contains two for the price of one entry vouchers to several major, popular gardens, such as Penshurst gardens and grounds (looks like only the gardens not the house), Great Comp Gardens featured on Gardeners World, and several more including Brogdale.

Brogdale
What can you do there? Buy fruit trees.
Marketplace is their selling area. Drinks such as cider, jams, chutneys, marmalades, gifts decorated with fruit themes.
Open 10-5, Monday to Saturday and until 4 on Sundays.

Brogdale
Home of the National Fruit Collection

B r o g d a l e Farm
Brogdale Road
Faversham,
Kent ME13 8XZ

(The website spellchecker turned the farm name into brigade so I've inserted some spaces.)

brogdalecollections.co.uk
brogdalejuices.co.uk

They have an online ordering and advice page. You can order a tree or an orchard. Or a case of apple or pear juice.
Tel: 01795 529 100

Heritage trees include the Isaac Newton. (Remember the story about the apple to tell your children - if not look it up in Wikipedia.)

See my previous and future posts on vineyards and garden centres

Angela Lansbury BA Hons
Travel writer and photojournalist, author, speaker, English tutor.
See more of Angela Lansbury author on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Lulu.com  

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