Bid to preserve English varieties
A BID to preserve England's historic apples has got off to a flying start in Huddersfield.
Two sessions devised to provide local people with the skills needed to preserve old English apple varieties have been fully booked.
The English apple-growing industry has been in decline in the past decade as supermarkets have opted for foreign-grown varieties.
The first workshop was held last week and the second follows next month.
The events are being run by Julian Faulkner, social forestry officer with the Kirklees Countryside Unit, and Hilary Dodson from the Northern Fruit Group.
Participants are taught how to graft the varieties of apples on to root stock and can take home two grafted trees to plant.
Root stocks will allow the tree to grow to about 15ft in height.
Julian said: "I am really pleased at the number of people that have contacted me to be booked on to the two events.
"I think it shows that there is a strong interest in some of the more technical aspects of horticulture and also in fruit growing in general.
"The event will enable these lesser-known varieties to become more widespread and for more people to benefit from their great taste".
Julian has been working on land next to Royds Hall allotments at Paddock which has been cleared and improved as part of a project being run by The Countryside Unit, paid for by the Big Lottery Fund.
Dewhurst Road allotments in Fartown are also the site improvements.
F ruit budding courses will be held later in the year.
For further information, please contact Julian on 01484 234083.
* Apples originated in the Middle East 4,000 years ago.
* The Celtic word for apple is abhall and it is found in many place names.
* Apples arrived in England around the time of the Norman conquest.
* Henry VIII ordered fruiterers to set up orchards in Kent.
* There are more than 4,000 varieties of apple.
* Favourite varieties in the UK include Granny Smith, Cox's Orange Pippin and Royal Gala.
