Pick Your Own
To Book.
All we requires a name and the number of adults & children who will be coming.
Call, text or email from the contact details below
Opening Friday, Saturday & Sunday Pick Your Own from 10 am to 3pm.
Free entry to our orchard
mb 0427772431 or 0245671206
Getting here Shields Orchard Bilpin Email. Info@shieldsorchard.com
https://www.instagram.com/shields_orchard_bilpin?igsh=MW9sNWw5cnZsc2M3YQ==
January 14 2026
2270 Bells Line of Rd
The 2026 picking season will be a difficult one for us as for the first time in 70 years as we have very little fruit that set on the trees, possibly only between 10 to 15 percent of a normal crop and with some varieties there are no fruit at all -obviously pollination was the problem ( see list below )
Why has this happened
The first thing that any farmer does when there is an unexpected event is to ask themselves if they did something during their normal operations that caused the problem. We had a growers meeting after blossom and 7 of the 8 orchards in Bilpin have all suffered a similar situation to varying degrees. There are lots of theories as to what caused the problem. Bilpin is in the middle of 2 national parks and has a multitude of native bees and in the past has had a multitude of feral honey bee hives. Understanding they would be destroyed by Verroa mite we all brought in extra hives for the pollination period, and yet even with brought in hives you could walk through the orchard during blossom and not see bees working.
Talking to the bee expert at at UWS gave us the answer. What happened was peppermint gum and come into blossom at the same time as the main apple blossom period and the bees at that stage prefer nectar over pollen. Any variety that had some blossom before the end of the first week of September has some fruit varieties after that had little or no fruit set.
This was a unique occurrence as eucalypts have no regular blossom period and can have buds for number of years that open only when the conditions suit.
We will be only opening for brief periods when we have a variety ready for picking, you will need to keep checking the web site or give us a call. I you are on our newsletter list we will be updating when something is happening
Bill & Julie Shields
we accept credit cards & Pay Id
Always Check before coming.
About Us
Shields Orchard is a small family based orchard that has been retailing our own fruit since 1955. Since 1992 we have been also been providing the opportunity for individuals and small family groups to “Pick Their Own” apples. There is no enty charge; the only charge is for the fruit picked. We provide a basket or you can pick into your own bags. We weigh the bags and charge per kilogram
We continue to improve our operations to the point that we believe we are carbon positive.
With Integrated Pest Management and some science, we now have high levels of predatory insects to control problem insects and has meant we have reduced our pesticide usage to about 30% of the recommended applications. Part of this has been the elimination of broad spectrum insecticide
We have just installed a 15 kw solar energy system that supplies all of the energy for the farming operation such as irrigation, cool room & shed.
We have over the years worked on improving our soil to the point of having organic carbon levels of 8.2 % which compared to other orchards as part of a national survey was 3 times more than the next closest. 8.2 % organic carbon means we are storing approximately around 75 tons of carbon / hect. In doing so have reduced the amount fertiliser we need to apply and as well the energy needed to apply it.
Helping us to Make it an enjoyable experience
We would encourage every one to either call, text or email us if you intend visiting.
- While we will take bookings on the day if we are busy it is difficult to answer the phone and we may be booked out. We like to know the number of adults & Children that are in your group.
- Booking enables us to ensure we always have good fruit available and it won’t be all gone if you get here later in the day, & ensure a better experience with no large crowds.
- While we are happy have small bus groups (25 people) during the week. We won’t take large groups or coaches on weekends.
- If you are on our newsletter list you are first to hear of what is happening & we will give you special attention.
- Check our website which we will be updating regularly once we start or call.
- If you are coming in a number of cars it helps us if you arrange to all arrive together
We as that people picking their own to observe the following courtesies
1. Watch were you are walking over uneven surfaces do not run.. Please Supervise children when picking.
2. Stay within the areas to which you have been directed defined by ropes & observe the directions on signs.
3. Pick You Own means what you pick you pay for.
4. Please pick only the apples specified. (picking other than the specified apples may result in being charged at a higher rate).
5. Please use the rubbish bins provided. Do not leave rubbish in the orchard.
Thank you for your consideration! Enjoy yourself.
