I picked my own apples at beautiful community orchard in Hull with hundreds of fruit trees

Picking apples at Pickering Road Community Orchard
-Credit: (Image: Hull Live)


I'd never gone to a "pick your own" event when I discovered a very special community orchard in Hull.

Pickering Road Community Orchard, in Cranberry Way, has approximately 350 fruit trees and is a peaceful haven nestled alongside Boothferry Road in west Hull. They host regular picking events in late summer and autumn and I was lucky to go on a dry and warm Sunday in September.

Feeling excited to finally fulfil one of my childhood dreams, I was given a bucket for my apples by a friendly volunteer. A volunteer explained the pricing and how to identify the apple tree varieties which are labelled on signs at the front of each row.

READ MORE:DWP 6 key changes in October: Claimant rules, mobile roaming, and energy price hikes

READ MORE:Man smashed pool cue across fellow player's face after he accidentally touched him

In spite of this, I probably looked a bit lost because another volunteer - I regret I didn't get his name - took me around the varieties of trees and let me sample numerous apples which was very helpful.

There are dozens of different kinds and the choice was overwhelming. I soon discovered I prefer a soft-textured apple and ones on the sweeter side.

Rows of fruit trees at Pickering Road Community Orchard
Rows of fruit trees at Pickering Road Community Orchard in Hull -Credit:Hull Live

Names I can recall are 'Charles Ross', 'Jupiter', 'Suntan', and 'Pitman Pineapple'. There's definitely more choice than your standard supermarket offering of Pink Lady and Braeburn.

Even better, these apples are grown free from pesticides in our very own city rather than distant countries such as New Zealand and South Africa, which the UK imports tonnes of apples from.

It was very fun mooching around the orchard with a bucket and carefully selecting the ripest fruit. The best ones are normally those most exposed to the sun with a reddish hue.

The satisfying moment the apple twists off the tree and you see you have a beauty is hard to beat. It was also lovely to see how many families there were enjoying the day out.

Children loved getting involved and it was so nice to see them working as a team with their families to find the best fruit. You can also buy honey - but it is very popular and selling out quickly.

Wildlife seems to thrive here generally and I was told foxes like to nibble on the fallen apples. The birds were constantly singing and, if not for the traffic noise of nearby Boothferry Road, you'd believe you were in the countryside.

The final "pick your own" of the season will be on Saturday, October 12 with entry between midday and 1.30pm. Apples cost £2 per kilogram and it's cash only; you can find out more details on the Pickering Road Community Orchard Facebook page.