Gloucestershire — Old Varieties

The Tree Council’s National Tree Week, 27 November – 5 December 2010, is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration, launching the start of the winter tree planting season.

With over 80 National Collections of trees, Plant Heritage works to support Britain’s wonderful historic trees and conserves precious genetic material so that our landscapes and cities can continue to be enhanced by rare, beautiful and useful trees.

Where better to see our native and cultivated trees at their best, than in one of the arboreta sheltering a glorious National Collection?

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Hampshire.
Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire.
Wakehurst Place, West Sussex.
Newby Hall Gardens, North Yorkshire.
Bodnant Garden, Conwy.
Crarae Garden, Argyll.

The Tree Council

The Blakeney Red Perry Pear is named after the village of Blakeney in the Forest of Dean. Also known as Red Pear, Circus Pear, Painted Lady, Painted Pear .

Known to have been in existence in 1600, some trees are over 300 years old and it is now the most common perry pear in the Gloucestershire and Herefordshire region.

The Blakeney Red is a greenish yellow perry pear with a red flush on the sunny side, an old favourite which was even considered a desert pear in the 1600’s. which could also be stewed and used to dye soldiers’ khaki uniforms.

This popular pear is renowned for perry making and is considered one of the best single perry varieties.

Many Cider companies still rely on this pear to produce quality cider.

A statuesque specimen can be found in the Acorn Bank Orchards at Temple Sowerby, Cumbria.

Perry Pear - Balkeney Red at Acorn Bank, Cumbria.

This tree towers above it’s neighbouring Medlar’s to some 40 or 50 feet.

A well shaped tree, the fruit glows red on the sunniest side and hangs in abundance, crammed onto the upward facing branches.

To find out more about Perry pears and Perry making visit the Three Counties Perry website.

You can find young trees at Cummins Nursery.