Orchards

Orchards were once a common feature across lowland Dartmoor.  In 1960 there were some 780 orchards within the Park, but by 2000 over 320 of these orchard had been lost completely.  Very few orchards are being managed, one of the exceptions is Lustleigh community orchard, the site of May day celebrations and crowing of the May Queen.

Most orchards were apple orchards planted to produce rough cider or ‘scrumpy’ with many farmsteads having their own cider press. Scrumpy is still a popular drink locally, but there are no commercial producers on Dartmoor.