This month will see us pruning the orchard at B&B HQ. It’s one of those milestone tasks of the year that, although it takes a few days, we find quite therapeutic – particularly on bright days when birds are singing and the sun shines warmly on your back – it gives a real feeling of hope that spring is not too far away.
The trees are already budding, showing signs of future blossoms – it can sometimes be a difficult choice on how much to cut away, knowing that you will be loosing the chance of fruit from those trimmed branches, but justified in knowing your actions are for the longer term good health and shape of the tree.
We are also launching a new collaboration this month with Rowdy & Fancy’s Chocolate – a Valentines inspired gift box including four paired bars of chocolate and bottles of cider.
Rowdy & Fancy’s Chocolate is a very local small business based just up the road on the Ashdown Forest, hand making and wrapping their gorgeous organic and exciting flavoured bars – great for a cosy night in around the fire - from personal experience this is thoroughly recommended!
If you are looking for another idea for brightening up your lock-down, we have also decided to continue our offering of paired cider and cheeses on the shop. We had good fun tasting and sampling with High Weald dairy back in November – the recording of which you can find on our website to help inform your taste buds. A full set of tasting notes is included in each Cider & Cheese Hamper.
We hope you enjoy this month’s batches. You can find all the details about each cider on the website, as well as the link to our shop: www.Bignoseandbeardy.com.
Wassail!
Phil and Steve
Bignose & Beardy