HEREFORDSHIRE’S Lower Hope Fruit came away with five awards at the national cherry and soft fruit show.

The Ullingswick farm, owned by Clive Richards, captured a total of five class wins for its outstanding cherries at the event held at the 2011 Kent Show.

Simon Wells, the farm’s business manager, said the awards were down to their knowledge, experience, and fantastic location.

“With the farm being set in a valley, we are able to capitalise on a very favourable climate for growing cherries and extend the growing season using modern farming techniques,”

he said.

“We have been blessed this year with a great spring, which helped set the blossom to produce exceptionally juicy and succulent cherries.”

Mr Wells praised his fruit manager Andy Hunt for pioneering many of the cherry growing methods at the farm.