Bentley’s Castle Fruit Farm

Bentley’s Castle Fruit Farm

Bentley’s Castle Fruit Farm specialises in growing orchard fruits and supplies Primrose Vale annually with a mouth-watering range of plums, apples, pears and cherries from mid-July through to the New Year.

Farming their land since 2002…

Christiana and Michael Bentley have been farming their 150 acres of land since 2002. Located in beautiful undulating countryside two miles North of Newent, Michael believes that old maps show fruit has been grown on the site for many years.

High regard for the sustainable use of all the resources on their farm…

The Bentleys take their growing very seriously with high regard for the sustainable use of all the resources on their farm including water, soil and air. Production methods using natural, biological and cultural processes are used alongside modern technology which ensures the pears, plums and apples are at their very best when ripe and above all else have been farmed with great care.

The farm is split into four major growing areas…

The farm is split into four major growing areas; half for dessert apples, pears and Bramleys. A quarter for plums, a quarter for cider apples and squeezed in amongst them a very small plot of cherries.

The varieties grown are numerous including Victoria, Herman, Opal, Reeve, Avalon, Majorie Seedling and Valor plums. Elstar, Cox, Egremont Russet, Jonagold, Braeburn and Gala apples plus Comice and Conference pears. Michael’s favourite is the Gloucestershire apple Ashmead Kernel. Christiana enjoys an Avalon plum because they are so sweet and juicy.

Being at the mercy of the British weather…

The only downside to farming top fruit Michael claims “is being at the mercy of the British weather.” Christiana soon adds, “what about the wasps? To avoid being stung some years we start picking at sunrise so we’ve finished by the time the wasps are at their daily peak!”