The apple orchards of Wiltshire

“When we lose an orchard we sacrifice not simply a few old trees, but we risk losing former varieties particular to the locality, together with wildlife, songs, recipes, cider, festive gatherings, the look of the landscape and the wisdom gathered over generations about pruning and grafting, aspect and slope, soil and season, variety and use. We sever our links with the land”

“England in Particular”, by Sue Clifford and Angela King of Common Ground. Published by Hodder and Stoughton 2006.

This poignant paragraph in the “Orchard” section of “England in Particular” should stop us all in our tracks. Since 1945 Wiltshire has lost 95% of its orchards, mainly due to the land being used for other crops, and with the passage of time orchard fruits were being imported far more cheaply from abroad.

There are many apples varieties ( both dessert eating and cooking) that are native to Wiltshire:

1. Bedwyn Beauty, a dual use cooking and eating apple.

2. Burn’s Seedling, an eating apple.

3. Celt, an eating apple

4. Chorister Boy, an eating apple

5. Corsley Pippin, an eating apple

6. Dredge’s Fame, an eating apple

7. Mary Barnett, a dual use cooking and eating apple

8. Roundway Magnum Bonum, an eating apple

There is a groundswell movement in Britain today to cultivate and eat more British apple varieties, for surely a freshly picked British apple is the most delicious orchard fruit of all. For all of us living in Wiltshire, Marlborough Apple Day, on Sunday, October 17th, promises to be a delicious and educational day out for all the family. I will be posting a whole series of Blog articles in September, one every week, to keep you all posted as to how you can volunteer or help the organisers of this important event. Just by sending apple pips in for the seedbank, bringing apples in on the day, competing in the apple cake baking competition, buying an apple tree in the Town Hall, volunteering, taking part or just coming along with all your friends and family on the day, you will be supporting one of the most important days in the festive calender. And if you don’t live in Wiltshire, you can go on the Common Ground website to find out where your nearest Apple Day is and go with your children to celebrate it. www.commonground.org.uk

“Celebration is a starting point for local action: it lifts spirits, builds alliances and opens eyes”. 

(“The Apple Source Book”, by Sue Clifford & Angela King, with Philippa Davenport. Common Ground. Hodder and Stoughton 2007)

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