Cider Series - November 13th

Join us to hear from Catherine Drummond-Herdman (Megginch Castle Orchard) and Neil Clapperton (Social Juice CIC)

Howe Beer Project has teamed up with the From Tree to Glass Cider and Perry Project to host a 6-part series of talks and tastings featuring a range of local Ciderists and Perry-makers. Come learn about the amazing apples, pears and orchards in Scotland and taste the ciders that are being made by these talented producers!

Tastings from 6.30pm, talks will begin at 7pm

Learn more about our speakers:

Catherine Drummond-Herdman, Megginch Castle Orchard

Megginch Castle Orchard in Perthshire is a leading conservation project aimed at reviving Scotland’s apple heritage. Before 2005, only 91 veteran fruit trees remained - now the orchard holds 1,400 trees and over 484 varieties of apples and pears. It is home to two National Collections and preserves rare Scottish genetics including the iconic ‘Bloody Ploughman’, which originated at Megginch. Catherine Drummond-Herdman also founded the Scottish Apple Producers group (SAP). The primary focus of SAP is to promote commercial apple growing, with the ultimate aim that Scotland will be self-sufficient in providing Scottish grown eating and cider apples for the Scottish market. SAP also fosters collaboration among growers, and supports regenerative agriculture and community engagement. The orchard at Megginch is also a platform for research into soil health, biodiversity, and genetic conservation. Catherine leads the Carse of Gowrie orchard group, a community group that runs various local projects, supporting local orchards and cider makers.

Neil Clapperton, Social Juice CIC

Social Juice is a community interest social enterprise based in Wormit, supporting community orchards and biodiversity across Fife, Tayside, and Aberdeenshire. Led by Neil Clapperton, Social Juice turns surplus fruit into food and drink and supports local growing through grafting new trees, reviving orchards and planting new ones. Social Juice is working with “Carse of Gowrie Orchards: People for Pollinators”. This is an exciting new partnership project between Buglife and Tayside Biodiversity Partnership that will work with landowners, communities and others to restore a network of habitat for pollinators in orchards and improve the recording of wildlife. Social Juice is also keen on reviving heritage pear orchards in Tayside. The Fife side of the Tay Estuary and across the water to the Carse of Gowrie, an area stretching as far as the outskirts of Perth and Dundee, and bounded by the Sidlaws, provides a unique climate and soil for pear growing. Some amazing local varieties can still be found in abandoned or unused orchards, as well as isolated ancient pear trees in places like Newburgh.