BBC TV Countryfile will be covering the Kent cherry crop in a forth coming Sunday night programme (BBC One Countryfile on 26th July). On the Thursday before the Kent Show they started filming in orchards, specifically Mount Ephraim near Faversham with cherry grower Sandys Dawes. On Friday, the first day of the Kent Show, the Countryfile team were filming in the tent holding the National Cherry and Soft Fruit Show, now in its 85th year. Presenter Matt Baker interviewed Sandys and fellow grower Tom Hulme who had both entered fruit in the competition. After the judging of the competition fruit Matt shared the news that Sandys had won with his Stella, with Tom’s in third place; whereas Tom had won with his Sacha, and Sandys had taken third.
The Countryfile team were very keen to cover the tradition that a winning entry of cherries from the show competition is always couriered to Buckingham Palace as a present for Her Majesty The Queen.
The cup for the highest points for all classes went to Brian Piper who amongst other wins had the most meritorious exhibit of cherries. F.W. Mansfield also won many prizes including the Champion Basket of Cherries in the Show. John Myatt won a number of 1st prizes this year including sweeping the board with the Taste of Kent award for his strawberries, raspberries and blackberries! Full results and a report will be published in the August issue of The Fruit Grower magazine.