The National Fruit Collection is one of the largest fruit collections in the world and includes over 3,500 named Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry, Bush fruit, Vine and Cob Nut cultivars. Located at Brogdale Farm, near Faversham (Kent), the collection is owned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and is part of an international programme to protect plant genetic resources for the future.

Our sister organisation in the south of the county

The South Lakeland Orchard Group was formed in 2007 by people who are passionate about orchard fruits in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, England. Their aims are to conserve, maintain and renovate existing fruit orchards and encourage the planting of new orchards in the South Lakeland area recognising the importance of bio-diversity and the preservation of old local varieties of fruit.

Promoting fruit growing in the north of England

The group was formed in November 1995 by a group of like-minded people with a passion for fruit growing. Membership has since grown to over 400 in number with a wide range of expertise from novice to professional growers. Although centred in Yorkshire, membership spreads as far as Scotland, west Wales, northern France and the Netherlands!

Products, history and information about Westmorland Damsons.

The Westmorland Damson Association was formed in April 1996 by a group of local people who wished to preserve the damson orchards in the old County of Westmorland, especially in and around the Lyth Valley.

Every April, they run the "Damson Day" in the Lyth valley.

The Lancashire Apples Project involves the Northern Fruit Group, Lancaster Seedsavers, the Middlewood Trust and Lancashire County Council, which has funded the exercise. In 2005, 200 apple trees were grafted at Middlewood near Lancaster. Most were of historic northern varieties, which were offered for sale to the public in Lancaster in February 2006. Such was the success of the project that it has been repeated - more local varieties have been grafted and will be available in early 2007.

Advice, plant finder and gardens

Natural England are the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England, helping to protect England’s nature and landscapes for people to enjoy and for the services they provide. Type "orchard" into their search box for relevant resources.

They have also produced a leaflet on traditional orchards in the context of climate change (click on the download link)

People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. They are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and their team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.

Orchards are a valuable resource for native species. Type "orchard" into the search box on the site for more information.

The National Biodiversity Network is a collaborative partnership created to exchange biodiversity information. It is a charity, with a membership including many UK wildlife conservation organisations, government, country agencies, environmental agencies, local environmental records centres and many voluntary groups.

The webmaster's tale of woe so that you can avoid the same mistakes.

ISBN 0-304-34016-2

Author: Harry Baker

The authoritative text on fruit growing. Currently out of print but numerous old editions are available second-hand.

ISBN 1-931498-91 1

Author: Michael Phillips.

A book from the US for apple-growing enthusiasts, particularly with reference to organic orchards. Some of the information is (East Coast) US-specific, but there is much of value.

Apple tree pruning - for bush form

Simon Fairlie - supplier of Austrian scythes

This is the supplier of the NCOG scythes. Simon imports Schröckenfux hand-forged scythe blades into the UK, direct from the factory in Austria where they have been made since 1540. Austrian scythe blades are recognized around the world as being of the highest quality. They are lighter, nimbler, more elegantly formed and easier for the novice to sharpen -- yet no more expensive than traditional English scythes.

A gateway to mistletoe-related websites

Useful information sheets with a practical approach to pruning, courtesy of Chis Braithwaite.

ISBN 978-0-9556653-0-1

Editor: Linden Hawthorne.

An excellent book on northern apple varieties with beautiful watercolour plates and lots of recipes too.

ISBN 978-0-7112-3141-2

Author: Rosie Sanders.

The definitive modern illustrated guide to English (and some international) apple varieties. Possibly the best illustrations for identification puposes.

Frank P Matthews grow over ½ million container grown and bare root fruit and ornamental trees every year for supply into garden centres, nurseries, mail order companies and commercial growers. They also supply rootstocks for orchard groups etc.

Lots of cider-related resources and an active forum.

Anyone can join the Cider Workshop discussion group and ask questions or simply discuss real/craft/traditional cider and perry (or as some of us prefer, heritage cider and perry.) The cider workshop web resource is an easy reference for all cider lovers and as a storage space of ideas and expertise for the group.

ISBN 978-1-904871-37-8

Author: Andrew Lea.

An excellent guide from a technical expert who spent 13 years at the Long Ashton Reserarch Station (for the National Fruit and Cider Institute).

ISBN 978-1-60358-473-9

Author: Claude Jolicouer.

Highly informative guide for serious amateur and professional cider makers.

ISBN 978-0-85733-283-7

Author: Bill Bradshaw.

Very practical guide to traditional cider making. Includes the webmaster's plans for making an apple press.

Build a sturdy and efficient press for well under half the price it would cost to buy one

Leading cider scientist Andrew Lea's personal website (unfortunately no longer updated)

A huge resource of general and detailed information about cider-making from the foremost cider scientist in the UK.

ISBN 1-85486-495-6

Authors: Micahel Pooley & John Lomax.

A great introduction to cider-making, including information for making your own press.

UK market leader in juicing and cider equipment

Milling, pressing and fermentation equipment plus a whole load of ancillary products.

Mosser Cider is the result of combining a passion for great cider with a desire to make a truly unique local product. It can only be found in outlets which take pride in local Cumbrian produce as well as excellent food and drink. The website has information about the cider and a (not very regular) blog about the orchard and products.

Information sheet on making cider (based on information at www.ciderworkshop.com)

A simple guide to pasteurising juice - just a big pan, bottles and thermometer required.

Information sheet about the group for download and printing

This is a really useful guide to expected tree size, based on variety, rootstock and growing conditions. It is similar to the information given in the fruit section of this website, but a bit more detailed and can be printed for use at events etc.

The webmaster's tale of woe so that you can avoid the same mistakes.

Information about the purpose of grafting and different apple rootstocks.

How to do whip and tongue grafts on apple trees

Apple tree pruning - for bush form

Build a sturdy and efficient press for well under half the price it would cost to buy one

Information sheet on making cider (based on information at www.ciderworkshop.com)

Useful information sheets with a practical approach to pruning, courtesy of Chis Braithwaite.

A simple guide to pasteurising juice - just a big pan, bottles and thermometer required.

A comprehensive review of Cumbrian apple varieties and of Cumbrian orchards open to the public. ISBN: 978-190-452-4557

"This book grabs the apple lover from the start with the close-up of bright red fruit opposite the contents page. Dedicating the book to Cumbria's Queen of Apples, Hilary Wilson, the author – who chairs the South Lakeland Orchard Group – focuses on the varieties originating in our area and the gardens and orchards where they can others may be seen. In Lakeland, he writes, two distinct categories of fruit growing developed – in the great country houses, where apples were eaten fresh at the end of a meal and on farms, where the apples were used for cooking and the most common variety in the 19th century was Keswick Codlin. Whether you want to be able to tell a Lemon Square from a Nelson's Favourite or discover the connection between artist Kurt Schwitters and an orchard in Elterwater, this is the book for you." Cumbria Life, February 2014.

ISBN 978-0-9556653-0-1

Editor: Linden Hawthorne.

An excellent book on northern apple varieties with beautiful watercolour plates and lots of recipes too.

ISBN 978-0-7112-3141-2

Author: Rosie Sanders.

The definitive modern illustrated guide to English (and some international) apple varieties. Possibly the best illustrations for identification puposes.

ISBN 0-304-34016-2

Author: Harry Baker

The authoritative text on fruit growing. Currently out of print but numerous old editions are available second-hand.

ISBN 1-931498-91 1

Author: Michael Phillips.

A book from the US for apple-growing enthusiasts, particularly with reference to organic orchards. Some of the information is (East Coast) US-specific, but there is much of value.

ISBN 978-1-904871-37-8

Author: Andrew Lea.

An excellent guide from a technical expert who spent 13 years at the Long Ashton Reserarch Station (for the National Fruit and Cider Institute).

ISBN 978-1-60358-473-9

Author: Claude Jolicouer.

Highly informative guide for serious amateur and professional cider makers.

ISBN 978-0-85733-283-7

Author: Bill Bradshaw.

Very practical guide to traditional cider making. Includes the webmaster's plans for making an apple press.

ISBN 1-85486-495-6

Authors: Micahel Pooley & John Lomax.

A great introduction to cider-making, including information for making your own press.

ISBN 978-0-141-98228-1

Author: Pete Brown.

Highly entertaining and informative journey through the seasons in England's apple-growing heartlands.

In 1997 a survey of orchards in two North Cumbrian parishes was carried out - you can download the original document as a pdf file using the download link below but be aware that the file is 6mb. Please note that the Cumbria Apple Project materials remain the property of the original authors, Nick Hirst and Peter Emsley.