WORCESTERSHIRE family cider business Oldfields is doing its bit to put the orchards back into the north west corner of the county after years of decline.

Queen Victoria named Tenbury Wells “the little town in the orchard”, according to Alison Chadwick, cider production manager at Hobsons Brewery in Cleobury Mortimer, which makes the cider.

But, over the years, many of the orchards in the Tenbury area were grubbed up until the recent boom in the production of good quality, locally made artisan cider.

However local villagers from Frith Common near Tenbury decided to do a bit of spade work just before Christmas to help establish a new orchard, known as Common Piece, for Oldfields Cider.

Apple grower Geoff Thompson and his family have been at Oldfields since the 1960s and has grown hops for nearby Hobsons Brewery for nearly 20 years. Until the autumn of 2013, all his cider production was for home consumption.

However three years ago, Geoff and his team had their first apple press for cider-making and since then the business has grown and gone from strength to strength.

Over the years people from the Frith Common have lent a hand on the farm and this year dug in to help plant 910 cider apple trees in a four-acre orchard.

Geoff Thompson said: “There is a fantastic community spirit here in Frith Common - friends and neighbours like to get stuck in and help each other out when needed.”

Two of the neighbours who came to plant trees were John and Edna Knott who have been involved in cider making at Oldfields since 1960.

All the cider at Oldfields Farm is made from freshly pressed and fermented apples. Geoff added: “We have planted earlier maturing varieties, Helens, Prince William and Three Counties to help spread the harvest and use of our fermentation tanks. These are also varieties that make a well balanced tasty cider.”

The new four-acre orchard adds to seven acres planted in 2013 and brings the total area of orchards around Oldfields Farm to 65 acres. There are also the best bittersweet cider apples such as Dabinett, Harry Masters Jersey and Yarlington Mill grown on the farm to make its cider.

In 2015 Oldfields ciders scooped a number of awards including the Guild of Fine Food’s Great Taste Award three-star accolade for its medium sweet cider while the medium dry version received one star. Both its medium sweet and dry ciders gained silver medals in the 2015 International Cider Awards.

Oldfields is also a busy working farm with cattle and sheep as well as hops and apples.