What a fantastic day it was at our Myrtle Farm Open Day on Saturday (16th September 2017). We’d like to say a huge thank you from us all at Thatchers to all our visitors who came along to help make the day one to remember. There were many familiar faces in the crowds, and many new friends were made too. Some had travelled from as far afield as the West Midlands and Hertfordshire; others from towns and villages throughout Somerset.

The sun shone for us all day, with an estimated 6,000 people visiting Myrtle Farm. One of the favourite attractions was the tractor and trailer tours around the orchards. Visitors heard from our orchard team all about the different varieties of apples we grow here at Myrtle Farm. Some even had the chance to bit into a fresh bittersweet apple straight from the tree, and soon understood why it has that name! Mr John Thatcher was also giving talks on apples and cidermaking.

For the younger generation there was apple pressing –  and drinking the fresh juice straight away was a real treat. There was also face painting, a magician, as well as sports activities.

Many visitors had the chance to see our canning line for the first time which is situated in the Jubilee Building – did you know that the canning line fills 30,000 cans an hour! It also has state of the art robotic and camera systems to make sure all the cans are filled and packed perfectly.

Martin Thatcher, fourth generation cidermaker says,

“It was a real pleasure to meet so many people throughout the day, some of whom had travelled quite considerable distances to be here, as well as people from throughout Somerset. From tours around the site, to pressing fresh apples into juice, watching the Mendip Morris Men, to sports activities, it was an action-packed day, which we’ll all remember for a long time.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who came to join in the day with us, and to all those who helped make the day special by exhibiting and laying on activities. We hope to do it all again in 2019!”