Whin Hill
Cider
Cider
Perry pears are quite unlike ‘normal’ pears. They tend to be small, sharp, bitter and gritty. Despite this description they make a drink with much more character than eating pears. They also make magnificent trees. Perry pear trees are very long lived, perhaps 2-300 years and grow very large. A mature specimen of Moorcroft (100 years old!) might reach 70ft high and 40ft across and even a small variety like Thorn will reach 30ft high. Mature perry pear trees can still be seen in the West Midlands and in Normandy but in increasingly small numbers.
Perry pears are virtually unknown in East Anglia. A trial planting in 1908 by J.B.Chevallier at Aspall Hall in Suffolk was unsuccessful as the trees refused to crop. We planted 60 trees in 1994 which cropped after 5 years and are now producing around one to two tons a year. In the winter of 2004/5 we planted an additional 93 trees. These all survived their first year and most had fruit on in 2006.
A good crop of Brandy pears
Our new Pears in flower in 2006
Variety
Planted
Description
Barnet
2005
Medium, compact tree. Low acid, low tannin, average quality perry
Brandy
1994
2005
2005
Small tree. Medium acid, low tannin , average quality perry
Gin
2005
Medium tree. Medium acid, medium tannin, good quality perry
Hellens Early
2005
Large tree. Heavy cropper. Medium acid low tannin, average perry
Moorcroft
2005
Large tree. Medium acid & tannin, good quality strong perry
Thorn
1994
2005
2005
Small tree. Medium acid, low tannin, good quality perry
Winnals
Longdon
Longdon
2005
Large tree. High acid, low tannin, good quality perry
Yellow
Huffcap
Huffcap
2005
Large tree. Medium acid, low tannin, excellent quality perry.