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Heritage orchards purchase opportunity at Saycells Farm, Kempley, Gloucestershire

A private estate on the Herefordshire/Gloucestershire border has come up for sale comprising mature, traditional standard orchards, a rare parcel of flower-rich old grassland, and further pasture that could be used to extend the orchards. Maintaining the integrity and continuity of these special habitats is a local and national biodiversity conservation priority, and efforts are being made to galvanise the interest of persons wishing to own and care for this important conservation asset.

Saycells Farm is a private estate on the Herefordshire/Gloucestershire border south of Much Marcle (SO 663312). Until the early 20c it supported a cider and perry business larger than Henry Weston and Sons, and the traditional standard orchards still reflect that legacy. The are c 29 acres of mature orchards for sale in three lots, including a rare parcel of flower-rich old grassland, and further pasture that could be used to extend the orchards. Maintaining the integrity and continuity of these special habitats is a local and national biodiversity conservation priority, and compatible with reinstating fruit production and appropriate livestock grazing. Efforts are being made to galvanise the interest of persons wishing to own and care for this important conservation asset. This is the surest way of avoiding the loss and damage likely to follow a sale to persons not so motivated. There is a well-established local community group – The Big Apple – who could support a new owner make a success of an orchard acquisition.

The former owners of Saycells Farm  are deceased and their executors have offered the entire estate for sale at auction via HJ Pugh & Co, unless previously sold, at The Hazle Meadows Auction Centre, Ross Road, HR8 2LP on Wednesday 22nd July 2020 at 6.30pm - see sale details of lots and guide prices in the weblink below.

http://www.hjpugh.co.uk/full-details.php?id=2810&farm-much-marcle-ledbury-herefordshire-ledbury

 The sale lots can be summarised as follows:

  1. Lot 1 - derelict house, outbuildings and land of 10.3 acres which includes old traditional standard perry pear orchards with excellent vintage varieties including Blakeney Red, Brandy, Moorcroft and Thorn;
  2. Lot 2 - traditional standard cider apple orchards (with a few standard perry pears) and permanent pasture alongside Kempley Road of 12.9 acres, which contains abundant wild daffodils. The mature fruit trees have a lot of dead wood = fabulous for bugs and birds;
  3. Lot 3 - relict traditional standard perry pear orchard with species-rich, semi-natural neutral grassland of 6.27 acres (and an adjacent improved pasture of 14.75 acres) on north side of lane to St Mary’s Kempley - among which are 2 x Gregg’s Pit perry pear trees a rare variety.
  4. Lot 4 - mixed secondary native broadleaved woodland and fishing pools of 37.45 acres with abundant Common Spotted Orchids along the rides and adjacent to the lakes; good stands of Yellow Flag, Water Mint, Marsh Thistle and Wild Angelica at the lake margins, and mature standard oaks and at least one mature yew tree within the secondary woodland plantation, as well as numerous mature standard oak and ash trees alongside the Kempley Road.

A local orchard manager and ecologist, James Marsden, is familiar with the land and can assist enquiries. greggspit@btinternet.com 01531 660687