A collection of more than 300 traditional British cider apple trees has been saved for the nation after the owner had suggested that he may have to move his orchards to France.
Henry May, who owns Tidnor Wood Orchards in Herefordshire, had considered moving his lovingly created collection to Normandy because he could not find anyone in the UK willing to take the project on.
But the National Trust, better known for its custodianship of stately homes and picturesque stretches of the countryside and coast, has stepped in to save the collection, which has varieties rejoicing in names such as slack-ma-girdle, the netherton late blower and billy down pippin.
The trust’s experts have overseen the propagation of new specimens from the varieties of cider apple tree growing at Tidnor Wood. At least two trees of each variety not already growing at trust properties will be planted at the charity’s estates in Somerset, Gloucestershire, Devon, Dorset and Herefordshire.
It is a huge relief for conservationists, cider historians and May. A former customs and excise officer, whose job was to collect tax on cider, he decided to set up the orchards after making money in property development.
May spent more than a decade travelling the UK’s West Country cider heartland finding rare varieties, and his orchards were recognised as the national collection of cider apples by Plant Heritage, the national council for the conservation of plants and gardens.
May wanted someone to continue his work, as he is now 70 and no longer drinks cider, but could not find anyone willing to take it over and said he would move the collection to land he owns in France.
Happily, the National Trust stepped in. The orchards are to be sold later this year and the danger is the next owner will dig the trees up or, at least, not care for them. But the varieties will now live on through the trust’s propagation work and planting programme.
May said: “I’ve always enjoyed collecting things – I was a trainspotter as a boy - and so when I found Tidnor up for sale, I saw that there was an opportunity to collect cider apples, having been beguiled by their names for many years.
“I was keen, too, to save the old varieties that could have been lost and I was driven by a passion to help the cause of biodiversity. I am delighted that the National Trust has become the custodian of this collection.”
The trees will be planted at trust properties including Glastonbury in Somerset, which has orchards on the slopes of the Tor, and at Golden Cap on the Dorset coast. Ninety-five varieties will be planted in the grounds of Montacute House in Somerset.
David Bullock, the head of nature conservation at the trust, said: “Traditional fruit orchards are not only a beautiful spectacle, but are also incredibly important for many species of insects, birds and plants.
“Orchards are part of our national heritage so it’s vital that this collection is protected for future generations to enjoy. Each variety will be planted in two locations to help future-proof them from diseases.”
The trees are expected to begin bearing fruit in about seven years, when it is hoped that many of the apples will be used to produce cider.
Steve Oram, an orchard biodiversity officer at the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, who helped arrange the gifting of the Tidnor collection, said: “Orchards are first and foremost about the fruit and how we use it, which is why it is critical that this vast diversity of varieties is not only preserved for future generations, but put to use today.”