News: Friends of the National Fruit Collections at Brogdale
We invite you to join us to become part of Britain's fruit heritage.
Our aims are to protect and promote the National Fruit Collections and inspire a love and appreciation of fruit in all its many forms.
Join the Friends of the National Fruit Collections and become one of the Friends and guardians of the Collections. We are asking only for your support. There is currently no charge for membership, although donations will be be greatly appreciated.
To register your interest as a Friend go to: http://www.fruitforum.net/inforequest.aspx
The Friends of the National Fruit Collections at Brogdale were formed in May 2007 to campaign to keep the Collections at Brogdale when the possibility arose that they might be moved to another site. In December 2007 Government decided that the Collections should remain at Brogdale, near Faversham, Kent.
The Friends of the National Fruit Collections are continuing as an independent organisation and enlisting new Friends as supporters and guardians of the Collections to help guarantee their long term protection.
News of the National Fruit Collections and Brogdale will be e-mailed to you; if you need these to be posted then we ask for a small contribution towards the costs.
Friends Days will be organised at Brogdale, when we will make a private visit to the Collections and explore its full range of fruits and varieties.
The National Fruit Collections at Brogdale are the largest fruit collection in the world growing on one site and comprise over 4,000 fruit varieties: around 2,000 apples, 500 pears, 280 cherries, 300 plums, 50 hazelnuts, 150 gooseberries, 200 currants (black, red, white and pink), as well as small collections of vines, quinces, medlars and apricots. The Collections are our national fruit heritage: the varieties that have been grown in gardens and orchards for centuries and which have shaped local communities and our landscapes. They are a living gene bank, which forms part of the UK’s contribution to global food security and both a national and international genetic resource.
The Collections belong to Defra (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) which funds their maintenance and curatorship. From 1 April 2008 the contract holders will be the University of Reading in partnership with FAST (Farm Advisory Service team). Public access, through guided walks of the Collections, and the provision of public facilities are undertaken by Brogdale Collections, a social enterprise company.
To register your interest as a Friend go to:http://www.fruitforum.net/inforequest.aspx
Or: e-mail: nfcfriends@hotmail.co.uk or write to Friends of NFC at Brogdale, c/o The Secretary, PO Box 264, Whitstable, Kent CT5 3UY.
National Fruit Collections are located at Brogdale Farm, Brogdale Road, Faversham, Kent.
For directions, details on opening times, guided walks of the Collections and Brogdale events contact: www.brogdalecollections.co.uk
Brogdale Collections, Brogdale Farm, Brogdale Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8XZ. Tel: 01795 536250, Fax: 01795 534860
To register your interest as a Friend go to: http://www.fruitforum.net/inforequest.aspx
