[from Oct 2012 WAGS Newsletter]
Brightwell cum
Sotwell has been a fruit growing village for over 100 years and taking just a
short stroll around the village it is easy to see that there are still a large number of fruit trees in private
gardens and abandoned orchards. The village Environment Group felt that it was
a good idea to carry out a survey of the trees. The results were surprising and
impressive.
Of the 443 houses counted we recorded 669
apple trees. From their size and location in gardens which were once orchards
on old maps, it is clear that many trees might be 50–80 years old, some possibly older. Traditional orchards would
have had more than one type of fruit tree to ensure a mixed harvest, so we also
recorded 96 pear, 21 cherry and 121 plum trees.
 |
| Brightwell Apple Day 2010 |
Some members might remember Paul Chilton
and Chiltons Fruit Farm next to what is now Route One. Paul still lives in Brightwell and as an
orchard expert he identified all the varieties and produced a magnificent display
of apples each Apple Day.
Just a mile or two from Waitrose and
Tesco, who sell only 6-8 different types of apple, we discovered that there are
a staggering 62 different varieties in Brightwell.
There are large
numbers of Bramley and Blenheim, but sometimes only one tree of a particular
variety like Grenadier and Edward VII. Around the village there are trees
fruiting from late July through to mid-November, some storing through to March
or April. Many were well-known apples, but there were also some curious and
surprising names from the past. These are just a few:
the men – Arthur Turner, Charles
Ross, George Cave, James Grieve, John Standish, Jonathan, Rev. W. Wilks,
William Crump, Winston; the ladies – Annie
Elizabeth, Barnack Beauty, Beauty of Bath and Kent, Ingrid Marie;
the Royals – Blenheim Orange,
Edward VII, Lane’s Prince Albert, Lord Derby, Lord Lambourne, Monarch,
Grenadier;
the seasons – Emneth Early, Sunset,
Winter Gem; Russets – Golden,
Herefordshire, Egremont, Ard Cairn;
Pippins – Ribston, Sturmer, Cox’s Orange;
Seedlings – Bramley’s , Dumelow’s, Miller’s, Red Miller’s;
Tydeman’s – Early Worcester, Late Orange;
Laxton’s – Epicure, Fortune, Superb;
Pearmain – Adam's, Worcester
Doing a quick
back-of-the-envelope sum we calculated that there are about 30 tons of apples
in the village, almost enough to fill a Waitrose lorry or produce approximately
20,000 bottles of juice.
Pleasing
outcomes following this survey were the planting of an orchard in the village
school, two successful Apple Days held at the Red Lion, one Pressing Day, an
abandoned orchard has been bought and restored, old or unusual varieties have
been grafted to produce new trees, surplus apples are being sold in the village
community shop and villagers have begun making their own juice and cider using
the village press.
Alison Bloomfield
