Bumper crop of plums for Essington Farm
After last year's crop plum-meted, a Staffordshire farm is now enjoying the fruits of its labour.
Essington Farm had almost no plums last year after a spell of frost in early April.
But this year conditions have been perfect and the trees are heavy with fruit.
Richard Simkin, from Essington Farm, said people can come along to pick their own fruit in the evenings.
He said: "Last year was a disaster for plums because we had quite a severe frost when they were in flower so we had no plums at all.
"But this year they escaped the frost, it's a particularly heavy crop. The quality and flavour is pretty good too.
"Even varieties that don't crop very well have done well this year.
"We grow about nine varieties at the moment and we've got about four that we're currently picking.
"Last year the trees had nothing on them and this year the branches are struggling to hold the weight, they're dripping with fruit.
"Because of coronavirus we haven't opened to fruit pickers throughout the day but we are opening in the evening from 5pm to 7pm after the farm shop has closed."
