Mystery apples in Cumbria
7 October 2011
Four apple trees growing at Mallsgate Hall estate in Northern Cumbria remain unnamed after experts fail to identify them.
Hilary Wilson, the local apple expert from the National Trust’s Acorn Bank Garden and Watermill in Penrith, could not identify the four cultivars in Mallsgate’s orchards, so sent sample fruits to Brogdale Farm in Kent home of the National Fruit Collection.
Studies revealed that the fruits have no historical records which indicates they could have been grown from pips. This means the Boyle family, who live at Mallsgate Hall, can name the apples themselves.
Out of the four trees, only one is an eating apple and is known affectionately as ‘Little Tart’ due to its sour taste. The cooking apples can be picked in October and will happily keep right until February or even March.
Mallsgate Hall is part of the Higher Land Stewardship scheme which encourages the replanting of traditional orchards with regional cultivars. The Boyle family is happy to offer more information or graft material.