The Devon Heritage Orchard at RHS Garden Rosemoor,

A recent National Trust survey highlighted that 56 per cent of traditional and modern orchards have been lost since the 1900s with a worrying figure of 81 per cent of traditional orchards being hardest hit, often grubbed out to make way for urban expansion or simply because they are no longer profitable.

These figures are not only bad news for the number of trees lost, but with this comes the loss of regional historical apple varieties, them themselves holding many a tale of how they came to be and the history of their local areas. One glimmer of hope is the Devon Heritage Orchard at the RHS Garden Rosemoor, offering a haven to help preserve many of Devon’s long lost apple varieties for future generations to come.

Apples spark interesting memories and stories of characters from the past, like Malus domestica 'Reverend McCormick'. Photo: Mark Bolton / RHS In 2016, we joined forces with Orchards Live, a local orchard group, dedicated to preserving Devon’s orchards and apples for the future, to create the Devon Heritage Orchard. Initially the orchard was planted with 43 different Devonshire natives, many at risk of complete extinction, with only one or two old crumbling trees known to be in existence.

Material was collected far and wide, from throughout the county and as far afield as the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale in Kent. With help from a specialist nursery, the trees were grafted and arrived at Rosemoor in February 2017 to hail a fresh start preserving them for the future.

Rather than take the form of a traditional orchard, the decision was made to follow the contours of the gently rolling meadows (which now flourish beneath), whilst maintaining view lines through to the lake and the fruit and vegetable garden. They are grouped in different apple types - ciders, dessert and cooking. Eighty six trees were initially planted, two of each, offering a guarantee should one fail in the future; another is in standby to propagate from to secure their long-term survival.

Cider trees in the orchard at Rosemoor. Photo: Guy Harrop / RHS The greatest problem you face when curating a collection of old apple varieties isn’t so much the collecting of them, but more in their actual identity. Over time, names slip, they get muddled up, labels are lost, records thrown away, and on occasion peoples’ recollections become blurred, things unintentionally find themselves with a new romantic name, and over the course of the years these become the new norm. For example, we have a variety we know as ‘Listener’ but it is also known affectionately as ‘Kirton Fair’ or ‘Luscombe Seedling’.

Luckily all is not lost, modern advances in DNA have revolutionised our understanding of apple varieties, helping to find those hiding under other names, or those that are genetically unique and true to their Devonshire names. This may have brought a problem or two, some were in fact more readily available but hiding under the guise of another, and some showed themselves as ‘sports’ of one another, genetically identical but with different fruiting characteristics, which inevitably brings more questions than answers.

The stunningly beautiful Malus domestica 'Bradninch Black'. Photo: Mark Bolton / RHS The orchard has continued to flourish to this day, with visitors becoming attached to many of the apples we have, ‘Bradninch Black’ with its gorgeous pink blossom, deep dark red fruits, pink flesh, and stunningly beautiful purple-tinged leaves captures the hearts of many. Whilst those with local names like ‘Netherton Late Blower’ or ‘Paignton Marigold’ feed imaginations and memories, with interesting stories coming forward of old cider works, or local dignitaries attached to the names like ‘Reverend McCormick’. This all helps to build the history of the apples, their importance - then and now.

In the autumn of 2024, and ambitious objective was set in motion, to expand the entire apple collection across Rosemoor from its 131 varieties, to over 150. This opened the opportunity to expand the Devon Heritage Orchard. As it stands today, it’s currently home to 52 different Devonshire apple varieties, and more, with names including ‘Plympton Pippin’, ‘Bickington Grey’ and ‘Devonshire Buckland’ are joining the collection. All of them are building this living genetic resource for the future, helping guide new research to discover yet more long lost friends of the apple kingdom.

Peter Adams is edibles team leader at RHS Garden Rosemoor

Malus domestica 'Endsleigh Beauty' in the Devon Heritage Orchard. Photo: Mark Bolton / RHS