Hucknall business Torkard Cider to donate a percentage of its profits to Hucknall Against Whyburn Farm Development group

A Hucknall cider producer has pledged to support the Hucknall Against Whyburn Farm Development group by donating a percentage of its profits to the cause.

Torkard Cider, founded by Ray and Gail Blockley who live in Hucknall, are in the process of producing two aptly named ciders, Whyburn and Misk Hills, and plan to donate some of the money from their sales.

Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News, Mr Blockley said: "I've been a cider maker for 25 odd years, commercially in Hucknall. In that time we've raised an awful lot of money for other charities, that's what I try and do is put something back in."

Torkard Cider has supported various charities over the years including Notts Wildlife Trust and Help for Heroes.

The latter is a cause close to Ray's heart. Before he started the business, he was a schoolteacher and when a former student of his, took their own life after serving for the forces in Afghanistan, Ray was determined to do something in his memory.

This year, he again wanted to have a positive impact on a charitable cause, and it began with a bizarre coincidence.

Mr Blockley added: "I do all my own artworks, and last year I designed these labels for two ciders that I was going to produce, one was called Misk Hills and the other one was called Whyburn. This was way before any announcement of the building, it was almost like I had a crystal ball. Although I produced the labels, I didn't think there was anything last year that fitted the label. This time I've got some blends which I think fit the label.

"I was thinking about it, and I was also following what Jemma and everybody was doing on the Hucknall Against Whyburn Farm Development and the Saving Hucknall groups, I realised the fact that they were doing things to raise money. I've lived in Hucknall for 34 years. All my life I've always found a joy of walking across the farmland and around Whyburn and up over on the Misk Hills and the wildlife.

"One of the reasons I had to leave teaching was I'd had two breakdowns, quite serious ones. And it really helped my mental health and getting my head straight, being able to walk up there and sit and watch the skylarks and listen to them so then to find out it's earmarked for building and all this other stuff I was horrified. I thought to myself well let's see if we can do something with our cider."

Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News, Jemma Chambers, who leads the Hucknall Against Whyburn Farm Development group, said: "We know now that there are so many people behind this in Hucknall. What I love about it, is it's a small business that are willingly taking out of their profits to support the cause. And it just really goes to show how much it means to people. Any help we can get is so welcome. I don't know what this is going to amount to in the end and that's almost secondary to the level of support that we receive.

"This will reach so far and have the benefit of funds being put into our fight fund but that's secondary to the support and the reach that this will potentially have for us."

The 'fighting fund' will be mainly used to help the group raise awareness of the building projects being proposed on the greenbelt land which as well as the Whyburn Farm development, includes the recent proposal by Aldergate Property Group to build up to 130 houses on the Misk Hills.

For further information about Torkard Cider, see here, or for further information about Hucknall Against Whyburn Farm Development, click here.