As August draws to a close, a familiar rhythm returns to the orchards of Herefordshire, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Kent and beyond at the start of the cider apple harvest. And with it, a chance to pause and raise a glass to the people and places that make British cider one of the country’s proudest rural traditions.
Across hills and valleys, rows of apple trees are heavy with fruit. Growers speak of a promising year of trees laden with apples, the quiet reward for months of care and decades of experience. For the 300 or more families who grow cider apples under long-term contract, this is not just a crop; it’s a way of life, a partnership passed down through generations.
The scale is remarkable. With around 15,000 acres of cider apple orchards more than the size of Oxford, nearly half the area of Bristol, or the equivalent of 11,000 football pitches, cider orchards are as much a part of the British landscape as hedgerows and harvest moons. These trees anchor biodiversity, sustain rural jobs, and frame a drink that is as deeply rooted in the land as the apples themselves.
Behind every glass of cider are great teams working together: growing apples, tending orchards and making ciders we’re proud of. Every glass also supports around 65,000 jobs across the UK, hundreds of farming families, and a proud heritage of orchard skills passed down for generations.
“The harvest is a special moment, a time to reflect on all that goes into a drink with real character and connection,” said David Sheppy, Chair of the National Association of Cider Makers (NACM). “British cider is more than a drink. It’s orchards, farmers, makers, communities and thousands of livelihoods.”
This year, the warm weather through spring and summer has delivered apples full of rich flavours and natural sweetness, perfect for cider making. It’s a timely reminder that cider is not only a drink with history, but one with a future worth celebrating. The UK remains the world’s largest cider market, with over 450 cider makers across the country producing from orchard to glass, and more than 700 million litres enjoyed every year.
This autumn, cider makers are opening their gates and welcoming people in. Whether you’re a local resident, retailer, pub, or visitor to the countryside, you’re invited to see harvest for yourself to walk among the orchards, meet the makers, and discover the apples that make British cider unique.
By choosing cider made here, you celebrate the harvest, champion the makers, and help keep orchards and rural jobs thriving for the next generation.
