A NEW National Register of Welsh Apple Varieties has been unveiled by National Trust Cymru to safeguard the future of the nation’s rich apple-growing tradition.

The register identifies 29 distinct varieties of Welsh apples, the result of a three-year collaboration between experts and enthusiasts including author and apple identification specialist Carwyn Graves, the National Botanic Garden of Wales, and the Marcher Apple Network.

Unveiled as apple trees across the country burst into bloom for spring, the announcement coincides with the National Trust’s annual #BlossomWatch and #GwleddYGwanwyn campaigns, which encourage the public to enjoy the spectacle of spring blossoms.

Apples have been cultivated in Wales for over a thousand years, and references to orchards and fruit appear throughout Welsh mythology, poetry, folk music and place names – from the Mabinogi tales and early mentions of Merlin to the traditional carving of apple-wood love spoons.

However, the tradition is under threat. Research by the National Trust in 2022 found that more than half of orchards in England and Wales have vanished since 1900, largely due to changes in land use. The rate of loss is thought to be even higher in Wales, with significant implications for local fruit varieties, wildlife habitats and the seasonal beauty of orchard blossom.

To reverse this decline, members of the Marcher Apple Network have spent over 40 years searching for lost and heritage varieties in old orchards and gardens across Wales and the English border counties. Together with collections held by the National Trust and the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, this work has formed the basis for the new National Register and the beginnings of a Welsh National Collection.

The register categorises apple varieties into three groups: ‘historic’ (pre-1950), ‘modern’ (post-1950), and ‘associated’ – apples not bred in Wales but which have strong cultural ties to Welsh communities.

“This is the first register of its kind to group varieties this way,” said Carwyn Graves, author of Apples of Wales. “Wales’ unique apple heritage was almost entirely forgotten a generation ago, but it has enormous cultural value – from folk songs to a farmhouse cider tradition dating back to the Middle Ages.”

Work on the register began in 2022 with a list of over 120 potential varieties supplied by the Marcher Apple Network. Today, all 29 named varieties can be seen flowering in orchards and gardens cared for by the National Trust and its partners – including Erddig near Wrexham, Penrhyn Castle near Bangor, Llanerchaeron in Ceredigion, and the National Botanic Garden of Wales, home to the Plant Heritage National Collection of Welsh Heritage Apples.

At Llanerchaeron, six of the 29 varieties are cultivated, including Baker’s Delicious, Bardsey, King of the Pippins (known in Welsh as Gwell na Mil), and Llanerchaeron Peach.

“Some are veteran trees, others are more recent plantings, but all play a role in maintaining our orchard heritage,” said Head Gardener Alex Summers. “By choosing varieties from the register, people can plant trees well-suited to the Welsh climate, while also protecting our cultural legacy.”

An additional 35 varieties remain under review, and several lost Welsh apples – such as Forman’s Crew, Bassaleg Pippin and Pêr Gwenyn – may yet be rediscovered.

The partnership behind the register is now calling on the public to help. Anyone in Wales with an old apple tree linked to an orchard or farmstead is invited to share details, including location coordinates (What3Words, grid reference or GPS), photos, and a description of the tree and its fruit, by emailing:
WelshAppleTrees@marcherapple.net and carwyn@ceginybobl.co.uk

The full list of apple varieties in the register is available at:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/llanerchaeron/visiting-the-garden-at-llanerchaeron

Discounted entry now available online for Wales’ largest agricultural event

EARLY bird e-tickets are now on sale for the 2025 Pembrokeshire County Show, taking place on Wednesday and Thursday, 20 and 21 August.

Despite rising costs, organisers have kept prices in line with pre-Covid rates. The early bird price is £17 for adults and £8 for children aged five to sixteen. Children aged four and under, as well as carers, can attend for free.

The show, held annually at the County Showground in Haverfordwest, is the largest agricultural event in Wales and attracts thousands of visitors from across the country.

Tickets can be purchased online at: https://pembsshow.ticketsrv.co.uk/tickets/110

A PEMBROKESHIRE dairy farm building became workspaces for craftspeople, web designers, marine surveyors, and even TV production after bovine TB restrictions were lifted and the herd sold, planners were told.

In a retrospective planning application, recommended for approval at the April 29 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Little Pencoed Farms Ltd sought permission for the extension and modification of a building previously approved and its alternative use at New Pencoed, near Cresswell Quay.

A report for members said the 100 hectare dairy farm business with a 100-head herd had, in 2019, needed the cattle yard covered to comply with pending regulation changes.

It added: “The dairy herd had been subject to tuberculosis (TB) infection and its small size in conjunction with increasing costs had led to concerns about its profitability as an ongoing part of the business. Nevertheless, the pending regulatory changes had to be addressed, and a planning application was made for the provision of a building of 334sq m in area for use as a covered collection yard which was approved on July 12, 2020.

“A contract for the building’s erection was then let and construction commenced in August 2021. However, and unexpectedly, required ongoing testing of the dairy herd established that it was TB free in the Spring of 2021.

“In consequence a decision was made to sell the herd.  The approved building was not completed in its entirety, being reduced in length by a single bay, a reduction in floor area of approximately 45sq m.

“The applicant has advised that initially the newly constructed building was put to agricultural uses. However, a decision was then taken to extend the building by a single bay in width and to let it for B1 (Business) uses.”

The building was subdivided into seven ‘studio’ units along with a woodworking workshop and six desk spaces in a communal office space, with a Gigabyte standard of broadband provision and on-site EV charging.

“The workspaces are occupied by thirteen tenants employed in a variety of occupations including: fabric machinist, potter, cycle technician, artist, textile & print design, sculpture, web design, marine biology, marine surveying, insurance data analysis, renewable energy & TV production,” the report said.

It added: “All of the tenants reside within the local area at: Saundersfoot, Pembroke, Neyland, Penally, Martletwy, Manorbier Newton, Cosheston, Cresselly, Lawrenny, Lamphey & Loveston. Six of the 13 tenants regularly cycle to work.”

Speaking at the April meeting, agent Geraint john said there was “no attempt to flout the planning system,” adding the scheme “organically developed from that point”.

Moving approval, Cllr Mark Carter said: “I am a fan of farm diversification, obviously this farm has hit upon something that is working for them; I’m quite happy to move approval on this one.”

Members unanimously backed the recommendation of approval.