Photo by Jim Chapman
Consumer group announces Pomona award winner for 2025
The Hartpury Heritage Trust in Gloucestershire has won CAMRA’s Pomona Award for playing a vital role in preserving the UK's perry heritage.
Named after the Roman Goddess of apples, the Pomona Award recognises people and groups that have made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of real cider or perry, a key campaigning aim for CAMRA.
Celebrated for their work in preventing the extinction of a wide variety of perry pears, the Hartpury Heritage Trust’s nomination impressed judges.
Since 2006, it has planted and maintained the Hartpury Orchard Centre, becoming a home to the National Collection of Perry Pears, and a collection of Gloucestershire apples, plums and cherries. It now boasts more than 100 varieties of perry pear trees in 30 acres of orchards and wetlands.
An award presentation will take place 27 September from 10:30am at the Malvern Autumn Show.
Reacting to winning the award, Jim Chapman of the Hartpury Heritage Trust said:
“It was a total surprise and great honour to hear that Hartpury Orchard Centre had been chosen by CAMRA to receive the Pomona Award this year.
“I have always felt a close affinity for perry since I enjoyed my first glass in the 1960s, so was delighted when I was asked to take over the National Collection at Malvern. Then, having inherited land in Hartpury, I established a second National collection, now grown to over 100 varieties, and the purpose-built Orchard Centre. Today, the Centre is looked after by the village charity, Hartpury Heritage Trust.
“Whilst preserving the heritage varieties and making perry, the centre also runs courses and events, including an annual perry pear day and wassail. The public are welcome at any time to walk the orchards, grazed by the rare Gloucester cattle, and enjoy the wildlife in the adjacent conservation wetland.”
Andrea Briers, CAMRA’s Pomona Award coordinator said:
“In an age where orchards are being torn down, and global commercial cider producers dominate the market, the importance of the work done by the Hartpury Heritage Trust can’t be understated.
“Future generations can enjoy perry made from pears that have been saved from the brink by the Trust, and I cannot think a more worthy winner of this prestigious CAMRA award. Everyone should walk through their wonderful orchards and appreciate just how beautiful these spaces are and how important they are for biodiversity, making warm and welcoming habitats to a whole array of wildlife.”
Ends
Notes to editors
More information about Hartpury Heritage Trust is here.
More information about CAMRA’s Pomona Award is here.
Previous winners of the Pomona Award include: Adam Wells, author of CAMRA’s Perry: A Drinkers’ Guide; Elizabeth Pimblett, Director of the Museum of Cider in Hereford; the late Susannah Forbes, co-founder of Little Pomona; and cider writer James Finch (aka The Cider Critic).
Award presentation
The award presentation is Saturday 27 September at the Malvern Autumn Show, after the presentation of the International Perry Competition awards, which start at 10.30. The Pomona Award presentation is estimated to start between 10.45-11.00.
If press would like to attend, please contact press@camra.org.uk so we can arrange press passes.
Tickets are available for £22 in advance and £27 on the gate.
Please note that the Malvern Autumn Show is not a CAMRA organised event.
