National Trust Cymru have announced that they have created a National Register of Welsh Apple Varieties in order to try to safeguard the heritage of the unique apples found in Wales. The list documents 29 different types of apples from Wales and is the result of three years of collaboration with Carwyn Graves, The National Botanic Garden of Wales, the Marcher Apple Network and others.
Wales and England have lost over half their orchards since 1900 according to research conducted by National Trust Cymru in 2022. It is said that this is mainly as a result of changes in land use, with the rate of loss of orchards rising significantly in Wales in the last half century.
The Marcher Apple Network have been searching for lost and heritage varieties of apples across Wales and the marches for more than 40 years. The Welsh National Collection comes as a result of their work developing a collection, as well as the collections of the National Trust and the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale.
The register is an attempt to counter recent losses by documenting and sharing information about our apple heritage and to encourage people to continue growing and harvesting Welsh apples.
In a statement, apple expert Carwyn Graves said:
“Wales’ unique apple heritage was almost entirely forgotten about a decade or two ago, but it has enormous cultural value – reflected in everything from well-known folk songs based on apples and orchards to a fascinating farmhouse cider tradition extending back to the Middle Ages!”
“We are building on the work many individuals and organisations have done over the past few decades to safeguard this unique genetic heritage. Excitingly, as far as we know, this is the first National Register of this type to group varieties – so including varieties that may have arisen elsewhere or in the historic ‘Marcher’ area on the border but developed strong cultural associations with Welsh communities.”
The register is split into three categories which are ‘historic’ apples dating from before 1950s, ‘modern’ which appeared after then and ‘associated’ which don’t derive originally from Wales but have a particular cultural significance.
Alex Summers, National Trust Cymru’s Head Gardener at Llanerchaeron and part of the group that complied the National Register of Welsh Apple Varieties said:
“At Llanerchaeron we are lucky enough to have six out of the 29 varieties of apples [4] on the National Register thanks in part to the sympathetic management of the garden that dates back nearly two centuries.”
“By choosing varieties listed on the Register when planting apple trees, people will not only have a tree that is suitable to the changeable Welsh climate and resistant to the diseases which are more prevalent in western Britain, but they will also be helping to safeguard Welsh cultural heritage as we strive to do here at Llanerchaeron.”
According to the organisers of the project there are 35 other types of apples that continue to be considered for the National Register which are yet to be found, such as Foreman’s Crew, Basaleg Pippin and Pêr Gwenyn. If you have any information about apple trees that are associated with old orchards or farms those running the project are eager to hear from you. You can contact with relevant information by emailing WelshAppleTrees@marcherapple.net or carwyn@ceginybobl.co.uk.
To learn mor about the 29 types of apple on the register, follow this link to the National Trust’s website.
