Replanting historic apple trees

Staff at the National Fruit Collection, at Brogdale Farm, in Faversham, Kent, have their work cut out just now. They are making history by replanting 2,200 different varieties of apple trees in the National Fruit Collection.

The replanting, which takes place once every 25 years, ensures the continuing health of this unique living collection, the largest variety of apples found anywhere in the world.

The collection is owned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and is part of an international programme to protect plant genetic resources for the future. The University of Reading has responsibility for the curation and maintenance of the National Fruit Collection in collaboration with the Farm Advisory Services Team (FAST) who are based at Brogdale Farm.

Tim Biddlecombe, Managing Director of FAST explains that the re-planting is a mammoth undertaking: "We have been planning for over two years and will see two trees for every variety planted and recorded. The existing collection is over 35 years old and needed replanting to ensure that we have the correct varieties and preserve the health and quality of the trees."

Leaving the trees would mean that they could become increasingly prone to pests and disease. Commercial fruit growers take a similar approach but they typically replant every 15 to 20 years. Winter is the best time to plant fruit trees and the work, commenced in January, should take a couple of weeks to complete.

Bernie Cranfield, Marketing Manager at Brogdale Collections, who runs the visitor access to the site, explained that the current apple collection will remain in place for a number of years and will continue to be open to the public for tours from Spring.

Guided tours of the new apple collection will take place next year when visitors will be able to see the collection of heritage British varieties, which date back to medieval times, as well as apples from around the world.

Also included on the Brogdale site – the largest fruit collection in the world – are hazelnuts, gooseberries, currants, plums and a small collection of vines, quinces, medlars and apricots.

In addition to guided tours of the site, other attractions include the Market Place, offering stress-free and local shopping in a peaceful environment with fresh local produce, an onsite nursery and a restaurant serving light meals and refreshments.

Brogdale is open daily from 10am to 5pm from 1st April to 7th November, with shorter opening hours in the winter. For details of tours, entrance fees and events please log onto:
www.brogdalecollections.co.uk