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Scotland’s New Heritage Orchard
Elmwood College, in partnership with The Forestry Commission have recently unveiled plans for a new orchard.
Elmwood college, Fife
Elmwood and The Forestry Commission identified the need for a "Model Orchard" to provide education and training in Orchard planting and management techniques. The Forestry Commison provided the initial set up costs and Elmwood hope to secure further funding from Scottish Executive Agriculture Department in due course.
The Orchard area is located on The Elmwood College Farm and has a total area of 0.73 hectares. It is fully organic and Soil Association certified and will be developed over three years. The first planting is complete and comprises 50 trees split between cider apples and desert apples. In addition a blackthorn/sloe hedge will surround the orchard, which was chosen for its biodiversity as well as the bumper crop of ‘Sloe's,’ which are expected to appear in a few years time. The perimeter of the Orchard is protected with a Deer/Rabbit proof fence.
Wayne Roberts, Section Leader for Greenkeeping & Horticulture, said, “The development of the orchard as a teaching resource for use by college students and the wider community is a fantastic opportunity to ensure that we can help to identify and preserve heritage varieties and develop new rootstocks for the future. As Scotland’s Centre for Production Horticulture, we can ensure that skills and knowledge associated with both fruit production and management help to support the national economy and assist to develop employability in the sector. The support and encouragement that we have received from partners and the industry have helped to identify that there is a strong need for this area of horticulture and we will ensure that we support industry as best we can.”
In the area not planted this year, Agriculture students at the College are about to sow a clover rich cover crop to increase the fertility of that portion for future year planting. The first fruit is expected in the Autumn of 2012, with major harvest from the Autumn of 2013. All trees have been chosen to be ripening into the College’s Autumn term to ensure the students are involved in the harvest.
More information
Forestry Commission - Scotland
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Apple Varieties for Shropshire
Karen from Shropshire contacted us requesting details of traditional apple varieties for the region.
Apple
Her school is taking part in the Learning Through Landscapes "Fruit-full Schools" project.
They are planning to establish a community orchard in the school grounds and would like to be able to grow old local varieties.
If anybody can help with information about varieties of apples that have traditionally been grown in shropshire, then please contact us via the comments section at the end of this post and we will forward the details.
More information
Learning from Landscapes believe passionately that children and young people who miss out on good school grounds miss out on the best start in life.
School grounds play a vital role in every child's learning and development. They are unique spaces, providing safe and diverse opportunities for understanding, achievement, healthy exercise and play.
Learning From Landscapes will help you;
* Identify how to make physical changes to your grounds, and find people who can help
* Deliver the curriculum in a stimulating and meaningful way
* Increase learning and play opportunities
* Improve the environment for children and staff, making a better, happier place to be and developing a positive, caring ethos.
* Provide a range of formal and informal opportunities for physical activity, improving health, well-being and motivation to learn.
* Create opportunities for genuine participation for all to be involved in this process.
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Berkshire Apples Sought
We have had a request from a gentleman looking for pictures of and maybe ultimately suppliers of two varieties of apple from Berkshire:
"Guelph" a dessert apple from Newbury
"Frogmore prolific", a cooking apple from Windsor.
Does anybody know if these varieties are still in cultivation?
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Apple – Duke of Devonshire
The Duke of Devonshire apple was raised in 1835 by Wilson, gardener to the Duke of Devonshire at Holker Hall, Cumbria.
Duke of Devonshire apple
Introduced around 1875, the fruits have a firm, fine texture with rather dry flesh and a slightly nutty flavour.
Uses: Desert
Parents: Unknown
Flowers: Early to Mid May
Picking: Early October
Natural Storage: January - March
The Duke of Devonshire apple can be found growing in the orchards of Acorn Bank House, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria.
Young trees are available from Adam's Apples, in Devon.
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Apple – Cockpit
Originating from Yorkshire, the Cockpit apple was first discovered in 1831.
Cockpit apple
Fruits have coarse flesh with a slight acid and almost astringent flavour.
A famous Yorkshire apple which grows well in Cumbria.
Uses: Culinary
Parents: Unknown
Flowers: Early to Mid May
Picking: Early October
Natural Storage: October - December
The Cockpit apple can be found growing in the orchards of Acorn Bank House, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria.
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Apple – Golden Spire
The Golden Spire apple was reported to have been discovered in 1850 by Richard Smith of Worcester.
Golden Spire apple
Fruits have a dense, crisp flesh with an acidic, astringent flavour.
Uses: Culinary
Parents: Unknown
Flowers: Late April to Early May
Picking: Early September
Natural Storage: September - October
The Golden Spire apple can be found growing in the orchards of Acorn Bank House, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria.
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Apple – Carlisle Codlin
The Carlisle Codlin apple is thought to have originated in Carlisle in Cumbria and records show evidence of it's presence before 1830.
No image available
Fruits have a rather soft and slightly coarse textured flesh, juicy and mildly acidic. The skin is very smooth and shiny when ripe.
Cultivation of this apple is probably only of local heritage interest, it does not have a good flavour and its very upright habit, makes picking of the fruit difficult.
Uses: Desert
Parents: Unknown
Flowers: Early May
Picking: Late September
Natural Storage: October - December
The Carlisle Codlin apple can be found growing in the orchards of Acorn Bank House, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria.
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Word Search: Apple varieties
Apples are being celebrated throughout the UK and elsewhere at this time of year at various Apple Day Events.
Apple Word Search
With this in mind we thought we would create a word search using many old varieties of apples .
See how many you can find hidden in the jumble of letters.
If you are holding an Apple Day event then let us know about it and we can help spread the word.
The files are in PDF form so Adobe Acrobat Reader is required.
The word search
The answers
(Available only if registered)
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Apple – Blenheim Orange
The triploid apple, Blenheim Orange was discvoered by Mr Kempster at Woodstock near Blenheim, England around 1740.
Blenheim Orange
Distribution of the apple did not start until 1818 and it received the Banksian Medal in 1822.
Fruits have a creamy white, somewhat course texture with rather dry flesh. It has a rich sweet, nutty, aromatic flavour.
Said to be good with cheese and for making Apple Charlotte.
Uses: Desert
Parents: Unknown
Flowers: Early to Mid May
Picking: Late September
Natural Storage: October - December
The Blenheim Orange apple can be found growing in the orchards of Acorn Bank House, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria.
Young trees are available from Adam's Apples, in Devon.
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Apple – Edward VII
The first record of the Edward VII apple was in 1902. Introduced by Rowe of Worcester in 1908.
Edward VII
The apple received the RHS Award of Merit in 1903.
Fruits have a firm, rather coarse texture, fairly juicy, with an acid flavour.
Reported to be an excellent cooking apple.
Uses: Culinary
Parents: Female -Blenheim Orange? x Male - Golden Noble?
Flowers: Mid to late May
Picking: Mid October
Natural Storage: December to April
The Edward VII apple can be found growing in the orchards of Acorn Bank House, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria.
