Prince Charles Saves Britain's Apples
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06. 6.08
We have applauded Prince Charles before for his willingness to spend massive amounts of money on green causes. And now HRH has done it again. He has purchased 1,000 of the rarest British apple varieties. So have Geoffrey Anderton, who owns Lochnaw Castle in Scotland, and the Co-operative Group. The sellers are a trust which looks after the living collection on behalf of the Government. Its collection includes 2,300 traditional varieties of apple, 500 of pear, 350 of plum, 220 varieties of cherry and 320 varieties of bush fruits, such as gooseberry. The apples have all been stored in one location and it was decided that it was too risky to put all your apples in one basket, as it were. The species being sold include the Bloody Ploughman, which was first recorded in 1883, the Fairie Queen, Forty Shillings and Ducks Bill, originating in England, and Great Expectations, which comes from Ireland.
Each of the buyers has committed to planting their saplings in different parts of the country. It is assumed the Prince's collection would be grown at the Duchy Home Farm in Gloucestershire. The Co-op plans to introduce the apples to its customers. They are planting the trees at their 800-acre fruit-growing operation in Herefordshire. They intend to press and blend the fruit for their own "heritage" brand apple juice. Watch for the Ashmeads Kernal (pictured) "it's an ugly looking apple, with black spots, and most supermarkets wouldn't touch it with a bargepole, but the taste is fantastic – really nutty, with a juicy, firm texture." :: Telegraph
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- Green Personality of the Year: Jonathon Porritt
- Pink is the New Green
- Top 7 Green Categories of 7 Green Lists of 7 Green Things
- From the Forums: Your Thanksgiving Green Efforts?
Turn off your lights and spend a candle night in Osaka
|
EPA Moves to Keep Rat Poison from Kids, Animals
|
Whose money is he spending though? His or ours (ie. us tax paying Brits)?
It is my understanding that the Prince of Wales uses his own money. He is president of a number of non-profit charities and a number of them are dedicated to environmental issues. One of them grows and distributes organic produce.
When it comes to the environment I'd trust Prince Charles (landed nobility) over Gordon Brown (elected ....) every time.
In fact I think most of us would trust Charles above Gordon on just about anything.
Either way, good on him for stepping in on the side of rare breed apples!
Good Going Charles!! Though it would be nice to see the seeds of some of these rare apples get around so many people will have a change of owning a slice of the pie.. apple pie.. mmmm with some cinnamon basil..
This is very good news. Each apple can only be reproduced by scion wood, not through seed.
Some day our love afair with the color red on an apple might end, and flavor will again rule the day, or we may need some resistance to disease or insects that one of these varieties has.
Its nice to see folks caring about the future of apples. My own little orchard can not compete with ones with thousands of varieties, but who knows what the future holds?
From the Apple State,