My Favourite Rivers Orchard Fruit

Written by RHSO volunteers
Published on September 1, 2025.

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My Favourite Rivers Orchard Fruit - 6 Orchard Volunteers choose. 6 people, six opinions - What’s your favourite?

Elisabeth Crafer - Emneth Early

Dear EMNETH EARLY, aka C13

I have been keeping the secret of your delights for many years.

You only crop every second year, so you are not a commercial number like those common Bramleys.

You are elegant and upright, a bit straggly now, but at your age what can you expect. For a long time you were the only Emneth in the Orchard, now you have two friends, C9 and C10.

As for your fruit,:Enmeth, your apples ripen early, are pale whitish/green so no one notices they are ready for the picking. But I do.

They have no scent when picked, but peeled, sliced and cooked gently they release an extraordinary heady fragrance, while fluffing up into pillows of deliciousness. No sugar, that would ruin the exquisite sweet-sharp flavour.

You are my favourite tree, there is no competition!

I’m hoping for a good crop.

Note: Originates from Emneth, Cambridgeshire. Introduced 1899. Rarely grown. (Source: Orange Pippin.)



Lanier Pole - Cherry

Imagine my delight when I spotted these Early Rivers Cherries on the 14th of June this year. I picked a small number, enough for the tiniest cherry pie, and made it when I got home. These small, sharp beauties were perfect for my grandmother’s Cherry Pie recipe!

Note: Raised by Rivers Nursery in the 1860s and marketed from 1872. (Source: EEAOP)


Hazel Mead - Cox’s Orange Pippin

My favourite apple is Cox’s Orange Pippin which attracts you with its lovely splashes of red colour on its light yellowy green skin. If you polish it on the sleeve of your clothes it then has a beautiful shine. Biting into it the juice squirts refreshingly all over your face and then hits your nose where you inhale the delicate aroma. The very crisp, fresh taste lasts right down to the very core until you are left with just a stalk and pips. Eating this apple takes me back to my childhood as we had this apple tree in our garden when I used to ‘help’ my Dad with the gardening.

Note: The classic English apple, regarded as the finest dessert apple; unknown origin in 19th century. The orange flush on its skin suggests its name. (Source: Orange Pippin.)




Steve Karn - Laxton Superb

My favourite Rivers Orchard fruit is the Laxton Superb apple. Over the years I have narrowed my preferred option down to this as my overall first choice. It lives up to its name and in my opinion is a real crowd pleaser - crisp, firm, refreshing, juicy with just enough sweetness and absolutely delicious straight off the bough. A classic British apple. When I was young in the 60s my favourite apple was Cox’s Orange Pippin. The Superb is a cross between the Pippin and Cellini. I have not tried Cellini but will say that the crossing of these two varieties was a superb idea - well done Laxton Brothers of Bedford. Commendations also to The Royal Horticultural Society which bestowed the variety with an Award of Garden Merit in 1920. Well done Rivers Heritage Orchard for maintaining a good number of healthy and productive Laxton Superb trees. Thanks also to Sawbridgeworth residents who help harvest the apples every year on Apple Day. The Laxton has become a firm favourite for juicing and is happily consumed by the community all year round.


Nickie Hancock - Windfalls

I really like the delicious juicy windfalls - Bramleys, Cox, Blenheim Orange, Laxton - all tumbled to the ground. Pluck them from the tangle of just fallen and slowly disintegrating at your feet. Stew them together into gorgeous jam, pickles & compotes. It doesn't matter what the variety is as it's the mix that creates the amazing flavours. You never know exactly how it will turn out but that's half the fun of it!




Adrienne Richardson - Damson

The DAMSON is my No.1 of Rivers Orchard fruit.

Its tartness really suits.

Varieties we grow include

Merryweather and Shropshire Prune.

But the tree I like is labelled ‘unknown’, Row U, No. 25 -

How it brings my jams alive!

And flavours great jellies and purple pies for sure


Yet it’s at its very best in making strong Liqueur:

1 lb damsons, 1 lb sugar and a pint of gin

Puts my head in a spin.

A G & T never appealed to me,

Yet while sipping this nectar I join in the revelry!


Cheers!

Note: The damson is an ancient species and of unknown origin - a ‘native’ fruit.

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