A HEREFORDSHIRE farm turned cider producers has been named fruit grower of the year.

Rob Hancocks and his youngest son Henry, of Celtic Marches Beverages in Bishop’s Frome near Bromyard, were among the winners at the National Arable and Grassland Awards 2022 for their craft cider company.

Both farm the 200-acre cider orchard in Herefordshire, and they say their vast crop makes them one of the UK’s largest self-sustaining single-estate cider producers.

The firm is no stranger to awards and have received international acclaim for their craft ciders.

Their core range includes Thundering Molly, a key flagship Herefordshire cider.

Rob and Henry’s latest project has been nurturing their vine yard, working with the land and diversifying, recently launching Radlow Hundred.

Their small batch of English wine is said to be a testimony to their hard work, passion for growing and ability to adapt the farm to plan for the future.