The orchard this year has produced very different results from last year. The crop has been badly affected by wasps and other insects this year, while last year we did not have too much trouble and had bumper crops of all the different apples.  My favourite apple tree, the Howgate Wonder, which produced a magnificent crop of enormous apples last year, has not got any usable apples on it this year.

Meanwhile, all the pear trees have excellent crops (last year there were hardly any) and do not seem to have been affected by insects. They are not yet ripe, so keep an eye on them and try to pick them before the wasps realise they are sweetening up!