Comments Section

Nov 28 2010

Produce Link

Following requests from readers trying to find out what they can do with surplus fruit and veg, we have created an online database linking growers with food producers.

There are many family run specialist food producers around the UK, who will take in or harvest surplus fruit and veg in return for a quantity of the finished product.

The UK has many gardens which are home to old varieties of fruit which are full of flavour and go to waste every year, as well as those types of fruit which are no longer in commercial cultivation, such as Quinces and Medlars.

Thanks to specialist food producers, we are now starting to see a revival in the use of these rare varieties, harnessing recipes and skills from our past.

Medlar Jelly, juices from pears and apples, along with wines and ciders are among the many British products now gracing our shelves. So full of unique flavour, they make a welcome change to the usual mass produced fare.

If you would like to be added to our list of growers and producers, then please contact us via the comments section at the end of this post.

Nov 28 2010

Looking for Medlars

Medlars are one of our ancient British fruits making a come back.

During the middle ages, people would have been very familiar with this strange looking small fruit which is actually eaten in it’s over ripe or “bletted” stage.

No longer in commercial cultivation, old gardens are generally home to the only trees in the UK. Some of these trees will be about two hundred years old.

Tracklements Ltd. in Wiltshire have launched a delicious new Medlar Jelly. Great with turkey, pheasant or game it is perfect for the Christmas table or the cold cuts’ table for left-over meat.

The medlars for this jelly were picked by the kind people int he surrounding area. You can see pictures of the donatees and picking adventures on their facebook page.

Tracklements started a quest to find some of these ancient medlar trees and the option of taking the unused fruit in return for finished product.

BBC Countryfile heard of this project and joined them picking for a day.

Put your fruit to work

We are aware that there are various food producers around the UK who will take in unused fruit from gardens and orchards in return for a quantity of finished product.

It would be handy for producers and growers if we could create a database of people willing to link up and put the country’s unused fruit to good use. If you are interested in joining our list then please contact us via the comments section at the end of this post.

More information

Common Medlar – More information about the Common Medlar

Tracklements Ltd

BBC Countryfile

Jun 13 2010

Apple Varieties for Shropshire

Karen from Shropshire contacted us requesting details of traditional apple varieties for the region.

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.

Sep 14 2009

18th Century Pear

We have had a request from Jamie who is trying to transcribe a letter of 1735, in which the writer seems to have given a variety of pear tree to the Duke of Atholl. He spells it as Lieuzeinsky, which may be Luzinsky.

If anybody is able to shed any light on this subject, please let us know so that we can assist Jamie with his transcription.

Jamie has kindly sent us the relevant part of the letter as someone may have a better interpretation.

The writer was chief of the Clan Donnachaidh, who spent a good 20 years in exile in France for treason for his support of the deposed Stuart dynasty. He had a known interest in gardens.

‘I have sent my Lady Jean a part of the first trails of my young standards of which the tree in the middle of the garden is one. I have wrapped them in paper that I may know if they be sweet as they are innocent like the person to be tempted. I am told the K of France has not a finer pair in his possession nor can he bestow them half so worthily & I have seen and can judge of both competitors for Birth and Beauty, without disparagement to the ?Lieuzenskys, I am to your Grace and family an eternal humble servant A ROBERTSON OF STROWAN’