A Fruity Route Along Cleeve Hill

The Vale of Evesham, renowned for its fruit, is virtually flat, but the growers who farm the land are constantly of the opinion that the economic 'field' on which they 'play' slopes against them. The most frequently cited objection is that producers abroad get (more) governmental assistance, facilitating a large supply of cheaper imported fruit, which consumers are willing to accept.

Plums with such evocative names as Pershore Purple and Pershore Yellow Egg used to dominate the region, but nowadays the Victoria accounts for three-quarters of the commercially grown plums. The plum is the first tree to come into flower in spring, showing its delicate white petals even before the sloe (blackthorn).

According to folklore, plums may, apparently, be used to make a love potion. In my experience, however, they are vastly more effective as a laxative than as an aphrodisiac, and I never eat prunes!

One of the ways in which cherry growers have made themselves more competitive is to grow the fruit on dwarfing rootstocks; as the name suggests, this means that the tree does not grow to any great height, making the other labour-costly task of picking the fruit much easier. A further benefit is that the smaller trees can be covered by a plastic tunnel. Although there are now several types of plastic tunnel, in England the so-called 'French tunnel' has been around, coincidentally, since roughly the time that the Channel Tunnel began to be drilled. Such a substantial investment is best thought of as an insurance policy, protecting the fruit from summer rainstorms.

There is considerable potential to be realised from combining these two simple technologies. Perhaps other trees, such as peaches, almonds, apricots and figs, will be grown in tunnels if suitable dwarf rootstocks can be cultivated.

Although growers are anxious to have soft fruits such as strawberries available early in the season, it is also an advantage to be able to prolong the season. This is achieved by taking plants out of the ground during the shortest days of December and January, then arresting their growth by keeping them in cold storage (which of course incurs a cost) until required, not planting out the last until August.

On our behalf, supermarket buyers make the assumption that we will only eat perfectly proportioned strawberries. Hives of honey bees are routinely used to maximise levels of pollination. Two separate studies have suggested that honey bees also reduce the percentage of misshapen fruit from about 30 per cent to below 5 per cent? presumably, as you read this, somebody is trying to work out why!

What to look for

As you walk through the caravan site you may notice that they are raised, standing on breeze-block pillars about 3ft (1m) high. This is a flood protection measure. It seems that a compromise was reached with the site's insurers, for this elevation would do little to save the caravans from a repeat of the 1998 flood.

While you're there

In the 1970s the Middle Littleton Tithe Barn, once used for tithe payments to the Abbey of Evesham, was lovingly restored. It's open from 2pm to 5pm (April to October), so time your walk so as not to miss it. Documents show that the barn was in use in about 1370, but carbon dating puts its construction nearly 100 years earlier. Eleven magnificent bays span its 136ft (41m) length - that's about two cricket wickets - and the apex of its roof is over 40ft (12m) above its stone-slabbed floor.

Where to eat and drink

Rather early on in the walk, and just a couple of minutes off the route, is the Fish and Anchor, which welcomes both dogs and children. South Littleton has a post office stores and a fish and chip shop, open Wednesdays to Saturdays at lunchtimes and from 5pm. In North Littleton the Ivy Inn serves hot food and cask ales. You may sit outside beside a green. It also has some children's play equipment and a skittle alley.