On Your Farm

6.35AM, RADIO 4

Harvesting is under way in the hop gardens of the Malvern Hills. The aromatic flowers, which grow high up on wirework, will be gathered for use in the booming British beer business. Many of the hops will go for export, because the quality and diversity of British hops is much-valued by foreign brewers. Charlotte Smith visits a farm in the Malvern Hills, joins in on the harvesting, and hears about the new varieties of hop currently being cultivated in Worcestershire.