early autumn newsletter ~ 2026 ~
September 18, 2026
For London, the south east, and many other parts of the UK … that was a summer like no other. Alongside the brilliant tennis, glorious opera festivals, and fabulous art exhibitions, we had no rain, ‘too much’ heat and hideous fires, and as a consequence of these ongoing and frightening weather patterns, the effects in our orchards and farms have been noticeable. No apples or walnuts this year AT ALL in my mother’s garden – this has truly been a wake up call.
~ Read more on the call for urgent action on climate change – Independent Climate 100 List and the Earthshot Prize 2026 ~
the most delicious in season summer rosette apples from Kent
PLUS, the strawberries delivered to us this summer have often been firm, and not juicy; raspberries have ‘turned’ mouldy in front of our eyes, often within the day of arrival, and the peach, apricot and sweetcorn season has been so much shorter (and not nearly as delicious) as usual.
On a happier note …
… the mushrooms have done well and we have been making good use of them recently on the restaurant menus – cep from Wiltshire and girolles from Scotland have been going into risotto and pasta dishes, within warm salads and accompanying grilled fish and meats. The purple artichokes and coco blanc beans from Italy and France have started to arrive and one of our autumn favourites – cobnuts from Kent are here!
incredible girolles … ready for the menu!