Environment & Climate

Somerset cider orchards devastated by severe summer drought

Producers face severe crop losses and unripened rotting fruit, prompting concerns over the future of the region's cider industry.

Updated Aug 25, 2026 · 06:19 UTC1 reports

The short version

A prolonged summer drought has severely reduced the apple crop in Somerset's historic cider orchards, with some growers reporting harvests down to 10% of their normal yields.
Consecutive dry years have left trees water-stressed, forcing them to drop unripened fruit early to survive, while a lack of cold winter days has also hindered traditional varieties like Dabinett.
While some larger operations still have stored stocks, growers are beginning to irrigate young trees and graft weather-resilient varieties to adapt to changing climate patterns.

Somerset cider orchards have been heavily impacted by drought, causing many trees to yield no fruit or drop their crops early to rot.[BBC News]
Kimberly Jones of Honey's Cider reported her orchard produced only about 10% of its typical apple crop due to drought stress lingering from 2025.[BBC News]
Neil MacDonald, who manages more than 1,000 acres of Somerset orchards, estimated he lost about half his crop after water-stressed trees dumped unripened fruit onto the ground.[BBC News]
Traditional Somerset cider apple varieties like Dabinett have also suffered from a lack of cold winter days, leading some farmers to graft alternative, weather-resilient varieties onto their trees.[BBC News]

It is unclear how consecutive years of drought and changing weather patterns will ultimately impact the future taste of West Country cider as growers adapt their crops.[BBC News]