Defra is Only Interested in Supporting the Apple Collection
October 3, 2007 by fruitforum
Many column feet have been written of late in regard to Defra’s decision to invite tenders for maintenance of the National Fruit Collections, but one point, which I feel is vital and has not been mentioned by any of the illustrious contributors, is that the Tender Document states only that the Apple Collection must be preserved, as it is the subject of an International Agreement and if the bidder wishes to keep any of the other fruits they must justify it. (See Defra Tender)
The Soft Fruit Collection at Brogdale, which is very comprehensive, was repropagated some years ago on a new site and is cropping well, is not even mentioned, as also the Cobnuts and the Grapes
Thus I see that the choice that the present Collections will either stay on their present site or relocate is simplistic. There remains, in my view, the possibility that the Collection will remain at Brogdale, which I sincerely hope, but with only part of the Collection supported by Defra. This would raise the necessity of raising private money to support the remainder.
Howard Stringer
