Their story
Hollow Ash is an eight-acre smallholding above the River Monnow in the Welsh Marches, bought in 1994 by a family who moved from Stroud, Gloucestershire, inspired by John Seymour's writing on self-sufficiency. A half-acre orchard was planted in 1994 and a further two-and-a-half acres in 2007, on ground that estate maps show has carried orchard since at least 1698. Cider and perry are made under the Cwm Maddoc name, cider since 2011 and perry since 2015, using fruit from the smallholding's own trees. Ciders are usually blends of several varieties; perries are made as single varieties. Pure apple and pear juice are also produced from the same fruit.
About three acres of standard orchard on M25 rootstock, planted in 1994 (half an acre) and extended in 2007 (two and a half acres), spaced to grow into a traditional tall orchard with grazing underneath. Estate maps show orchard on the same ground since at least 1698.
Apples and pears they nameAshmead's Kernel, Adam's Pearmain, Annie Elizabeth, Slack ma Girdle, Foxwhelp, Barnet, Oldfield
What they make
- Cwm Maddoc Cider blended, still
- Cwm Maddoc Perry single variety, still
- Pure Apple Juice 750ml
- Pure Pear Juice 750ml
Visiting
No shop on-site; the smallholding also lets two shepherd's huts (Dawn of Day and Skirrid) as holiday accommodation.
Where to buy
- At the farm or cidery When open
- Broad Oak Garage Stockist
- Pengethley Farm Shop Stockist
- Marches Delicatessen (Monmouth) Stockist
- Ty Gwyn Cider (Pontrilas) Stockist
- Middle Farm (East Sussex) Stockist
Farm sales by arrangement (email or text to collect); also sold via online cider retailers Cat in the Glass and Scrattings.