For Apple Day: Eat your way to the river
It's Apple Day, one of my favourite days of the year and what better way to celebrate than to tell you about my recent trip to Longney, where Gloucestershire Orchard Trust have 18 acres of apple orchard under their tender care. Here you'll find older orchards with some trees well over a century old, plus their newer plantings of around 94 Gloucestershire cultivars which have just acquired national plant collection status at Plant Heritage . The jury's out on the actual number as DNA testing has revealed at least one locally named variety is actually a more well known one: Ribston Pippin in this case. Don't worry, there are dozens there which definitely have their origins rooted firmly in Gloucestershire and their cultivation at Longney is vital to their continued presence and preservation. There were around 200 local varieties at one time and today it's around 100 still in existence. Steve Mason - the Trust's Curator - was our knowledgeable guide who invited ...
Had to peer to do so!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting!
ReplyDeleteEsther - so did I at the time!
ReplyDeleteLea - thank you :)
BTW on Sunday there was a programme on BBC4 about Weeds (a repeat I think). Buddleia was cited as one of the v worst weeds. It costs our rail network £millions to keep it vaguely under control owing to its ability to root in the tiniest of cracks and production of many thousands of seeds per plant.
Buddleja is such a tenacious plant - the John Lewis Nurseries over at Longstock hold the national collection and also breed them - they have some amazing colours.
ReplyDeleteThe plant in your picture helps to give scale to the mural - great way to brighten up dull buildings
I remember being so surprised at buddleia growing in eaves troughs and cracks in walls in the UK. In eastern Canada, it often dies to the ground each winter, and any seedlings rarely survive. On the west coast, though, I understand it has become a similar pest, bullying in where it isn't wanted.
ReplyDeleteBuddleias can be such a menace! Great shot.
ReplyDeleteZoe - they grow out of such tiny cracks don't they? The picture's from Bristol. They had an international graffiti art festival back in the simmer and the results are amazing.
ReplyDeleteHelen - it dies back here in the winter too and springs back with a vengeance next season. 'Bullying' is a good word. Despite its attractiveness to butterflies, it's not a plant I like particularly.
Janet - thanks :)
i can spot the live plant!
ReplyDeleteMinna - good!
ReplyDelete