Barny Butterfield, founder of Crediton-based award-winning Sandford Orchards has been presented with a lifetime achievement award for services to the cider industry at the Royal Bath & West Show.
Barny Butterfield (second left) with (left to right) author James Crowden, Alice Fox-Pitt, joint president of The Royal Bath and West of England Society, and Ross Mangles, chief steward of orchard and cider at The Royal Bath and West Show
The award recognises his tireless efforts to secure the future of authentic cider making for generations to come.
“Barny Butterfield has, over many years, given sterling services to the cider industry, and given Devon cider the boost that it desperately needed to get back on its feet again,” said James Crowden, author, and judge at The Royal Bath & West.
The award recognises not only Barny’s work at Sandford Orchards, but also his wider contribution to the cider industry over many years. This ranges from mentoring emerging producers, to collaborating openly with fellow makers and helping to drive forward projects such as the DNA work with the University of Bristol to identify and preserve lost apple varieties.
James added: “The most important work that Barny has done over the last decade has been the research work into old Devon cider orchards, lost varieties and hidden gems of the countryside that he has, with the help of others, re-discovered and re-identified. Bristol University and Prof Keith Edwards were also a vital part of the enterprise helping with the DNA research.
“Many varieties were unknown and thus new to Devon cider science. Barny’s passion and zeal in this department deserve greater recognition, which is why the Royal Bath & West orchards and cider committee decided to give Barny a lifetime award, even though he is still a relative youngster!”
Barny is a cider evangelist and is always looking for opportunities to safeguard the future of proper cider for everyone’s benefit, not just Sandford Orchards. As such, he has previously served as chair of South West Cider Makers Association and is the incoming chair of the National Association of Cider Makers. He also set up and runs the Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards, which provide invaluable support for fledgling cidermakers.
He said: “The reason we’ve been able to grow Sandford Orchards from a hobby into a credible and growing business, one that is currently outperforming the category, is because I’ve always built a team of people who are genuinely passionate and knowledgeable about cider. That’s what has enabled us to grow organically, year on year, while maintaining our integrity and authenticity.
“I’d like to think I’m part of a chain of cider makers stretching back hundreds of years. None of us could do what we do today without the incredible orchards, knowledge, and techniques handed down by previous generations. Projects like the work we’re doing with the University of Bristol are about preserving that knowledge for the future.”
With Barny’s son Elliott now working in the business and learning the craft, and youngest son Alfie keen to follow, that knowledge and passion is already being handed down.
