The sound of furious backtracking that’s coming from the Houses of Parliament is now familiar to everyone who listens to the news. But amongst all the “outrage” and “uproar” about the MPs’ expenses fiasco, we think there’s something terribly amusing about former Home Secretary John Reid claiming for a glittery toilet seat and an ice cube tray. So if you ever wondered how the other half live, it’s in garishly decorated flats with cold drinks.

And while we’re on the subject of finally getting noticed for something you’ve been doing for ages, we’d like to send our congratulations to Nick Hemming and his band, The Leisure Society. In case you’re not aware of this particular story, Last of the Melting Snow – a gorgeous folk song penned by Mr Hemming – was up for an Ivor Novello award last week.

And although Nick didn’t win the award for Best Song Musically & Lyrically – it went to Elbow for One Day Like This – it’s the first time in 54 years of the awards that a songwriter without a publishing deal has been nominated for a Best Song award. (The day after the awards, Nick actually signed a publishing deal. So big congratulations to him.)

Elsewhere in the world of awards, the prizes have all been dished out in Chelsea. The annual flower show finished yesterday and, as usual, featured some truly stunning gardens.

But fear not if you missed Chelsea. We have some good news: The Royal Horticultural Society has two more shows this year: Hampton Court Palace (7–12 July) and Tatton Park (22–26 July).

Belvoir Fruit Farms has two pairs of tickets for Hampton Court Palace for Saturday 11 July. And that can mean only one thing … oh yes, it’s competition time!

Competition Time!
The Belvoir On For Britain Flower Show

We’d like to assemble an online flower show of your blooming gardens. Whether you’ve got acres of rolling countryside or a neat window box overlooking the city, we want to see your snaps.

And because we know you like a twist of Belvoir, why not place yourself in the photo quaffing a glass of your favourite cordial? (We may dish out extra points for flower-related ones: Elderflower, Raspberry and Rose – you get the idea.)

So get clicking and quaffing! And once you’ve got a snap you’re happy with, send it to photos@belvoirfruitfarms.co.uk.

We’ll publish the best ones on this blog.

Good luck!

Full terms and conditions for this competition can be found here.

The last time dear Blightly was in a recession, ITV decided to cheer everyone up by screening The Darling Buds of May. The show, based on the novels of Herbert Ernest Bates (a name to which we doff our bottle caps), follows the shenanigans of the loveable Larkin family on their farm in Kent. It starred the much-loved David Jason as Pop Larkin and launched the career of a little known Welsh lass called Catherine Zeta-Jones (who, as Mariette, ended up marrying a taxman – the poor thing). Re-run it, we say.

The larger than life Larkin family would no doubt approve of British Sandwich Week, which is currently in full swing. And as farmers, they’d probably opt for a classic ploughman’s. But according to The British Sandwich Association (who else?), a ploughman’s only ranks at eight in the top ten sarnie fillings favoured by us Brits. And, perhaps shockingly, there’s no place for cheese and pickle in the list. Here it is in full:

1. Chicken Salad
2. Mixed Selection
3. Chicken & Bacon
4. Bacon/Lettuce/Tomato
5. Prawn Mayonnaise
6. Chicken & Stuffing
7. Egg & Cress
8. Ploughman’s
9. Cheese & Onion
10. Chicken Caesar

We’re guessing a ‘mixed selection’ is one of those three-sandwich packets found in petrol stations across the country where you get two fillings you like and one that you don’t. But as Meat Loaf once bellowed, Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad.

One filling that rarely graces the Esso forecourts is Strawberry, Clotted Cream and Rose Petal. What a delightful sandwich! And we think we’ve got the perfect accompaniment….

Belvoir’s Raspberry and Rose Cordial

Belvoir’s Raspberry & Rose Cordial is a sweet, sensuous drink, packed with raspberries grown on UK farms and hand pressed by us. It’s perfect to quaff on long summer days as ripe raspberries help combat heat and thirst. Alternatively, use it as a base for cocktails: Try mixing 50ml gin, 75ml of lychee juice and 15ml of Raspberry & Rose cordial for a delicious Raspberry Blush.

Mythology says that raspberries used to be white. Things changed when a clumsy nymph,  furiously picking the fruit to appease a particular god’s rage, pricked her finger on a thorn. Blood spilled from her digit, forever turning the raspberries red. But don’t let that put you off. Roses are believed to make potent love potions, so Belvoir’s cordial balances not only taste perfectly, but also the anger of the gods.

In days gone by, raspberry juice was used to calm fever and gargling it would ease a sore throat. Raspberry syrup was said to dissolve tartar on teeth, too. So as well as making you feel better, your smile would be a couple of notches brighter.

Raspberries are high in querticin (whatever that is) and antioxidants which can provide a natural cure for hay fever.  Raspberry juice has reputed benefits for eye problems, mouth ulcers, toning the uterine muscles in pregnancy and is great for detox.

(Please note: Belvoir Fruit Farms is neither a doctor nor dentist; we are merely reporting herbal lore for the fruits and flowers in our products. We recommend you consult a medical specialist before declaring never to buy Lemsip, spectacles, Bonjela or toothpaste ever again.)

As for the rose petals, their scent is said to have an uplifting, restoring effect on the nervous system, and can relieve insomnia, lift depression, dispel fatigue and soothe irritability.

Of course, you don’t have to feel under the weather to buy our Raspberry and Rose cordial, it’s just as tasty even if you’re feeling right as rain. Speaking of which, where did those first signs up summer go?

Good day to you all. We hope you are well. We really do – after all, we wouldn’t resort to pleasantries and mere small talk when Blighty is under threat from a pandemic.

Oh yes, a fever is sweeping the nation. Although whether that fever is bringing high temperatures or a lot of hot air seems up for debate.

Here at Belvoir Fruit Farms, we’re just glad to see the return of those iconic war posters. This one, Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases by Herbert Mayo Bateman, is a particular favourite (thanks, National Archives!) and sits rather nicely with the design of the Belvoir On For Britain blog.

So as health and wellbeing seems to be at the forefront of people’s minds, we thought we’d open the fabled Belvoir Fruit Farm recipe book to a share a little information on the good properties of our much-loved ingredients. This week: the elderflower.

(At this point, our legal eagles would like us to point out that whilst we make incredibly delicious drinks, we are not medicine gurus and you should always consult your friendly doctor before quaffing our cordials in the hope of a quick recovery.)

Herbal lore

Every part of the elder – bark, leaves, flowers and berries – has been used within domestic medicine since the days of Hippocrates (smart guy; they still swear by him). Epilepsy, asthma, hay-fever, inflammation of the eyes and general nasal stuffiness were all treated with elder. Elder ointment was used for sprains and bruises whilst a distillation of elderflowers was thought to clear up complexions, the effects of sunburn and even freckles. It was also said to cure sore throats and alleviate the symptoms of colds and flu.

Modern herbalists have found that elderflowers contain flavonoids (17 points in Scrabble) which have antioxidant (19) and immunologic (18) properties.

Folklore

If you’re going in search of fairies. it is said that the best time is on Midsummer’s Eve beneath an elder bush. If you look hard enough, you just might see the Fairy King and Queen together with their entourage passing by!

An elder planted at your back door is believed to keep evil spirits from entering the house (we recommend a weatherproof, sturdy lock too) and act as a protector to the other plants in your garden.

Elderflower production

Still very much a tree of the woods and hedgerows, it is only in recent times that elders have been cultivated on a large scale. Belvoir Fruit Farms uses over 90 acres of land in the grounds of Belvoir Castle to organically grow its elders. Hand-picked and then hand-pressed, the elderflowers are infused with lemon and sugar syrup to create the unique fresh flavour of Belvoir’s Elderflower Cordial.

Belvoir’s Elderflower Cordial

Shoo the imposters, for Belvoir Fruit Farms is the original producer of elderflower cordial. To this day, we use the very same recipe Lady Mary Manners used to quench the thirst of friends and family over 25 years ago.

Belvoir’s Elderflower Cordial is delicious served chilled with still or sparkling water. And for a summer celebration, pop a small dash of elderflower cordial into a champagne flute and top up with fizz.

And if too much of this good stuff leaves with you with a sore head, elderflower cordial sans champagne is a perfect morning-after remedy that helps to clear the mind.

To stock up with Elderflower Cordial in preparation for The Big Sneeze, head to your nearest fine food retailer, discerning supermarket, or, of course, our very own online shop.