National Fruit Collections: the new management arrangements

Taynton Squash perry pear blossom in the National Fruit Collections

The new arrangements for the management of the National Fruit Collections at Brogdale came into operation today. On 1 April the curatorship of the National Fruit Collections under the Defra contract passed to the University of Reading and responsibility for their day to day husbandry to FAST (Farm Advisory Services Team) who are now based at Brogdale. Public access to the Collections is in the hands of Brogdale Collections, the social enterprise company set up by Tony Hillier, director of Hillreed Land which owns Brogdale Farm, and Tom La Dell, a Kent based landscape architect.

Previously and for the past 18 years the curator of the Collections was Wye College which latterly became part of Imperial College, while the Brogdale Horticultural Trust undertook the maintenance of the Collections and was responsible for public access and facilities. The role of maintenance is now taken over by FAST and the public side by Brogdale Collections.

Guided walks of the National Fruit Collections began at Easter and, if we have some good weather, this will be magical experience as one fruit after another comes into flower. Myrobalans (cherry plums) and apricots have been blossoming for some time, plums are opening, cherries and pears will follow and finally apples. The next month or so is a perfect time to visit the Collections: Brogdale is near Faversham in Kent, only five minutes away from Junction 6 on the M2.

Fruit Forum