‘It’s a special tree’: campaign to save mother of beloved bramley apple for nation | Trees and forests
Campaigners have launched an appeal to try to save for the nation the mother tree of perhaps the world’s most popular cooking apple.
The original bramley apple tree, growing in the garden of a cottage in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, is for sale, with the cottage being put on the market by its owner, Nottingham Trent University.
Every Bramley apple ever eaten can be traced back to the tree, which was planted from a seed by a young girl, Mary Ann Brailsford, in the early 19th century. It has been recognized as one of Britain’s 50 most important historic trees, but has no legal protection.
Rather than let the 220-year-old tree fall into private hands without public access, activists are seeking to raise funds to purchase the property and turn it into a heritage center.
Artist Dan Llywelyn Hall, one of the founders of the campaign and who has depicted the Mother Tree in several of his paintings, said: “Saving this tree for the nation sends a much wider message about preserving our ancient heritage trees and valuing them like any cultural asset.
“If we can buy paintings for museums for gargantuan sums, why can’t we treat these natural wonders as equals and give them the respect, care and dignity they are due? It would be a great travesty and national embarrassment to lose this opportunity.”
The campaign, which aims to raise £250,000 towards the purchase price of the cottage, is supported by musician Cerys Matthews and Celia Stevens, the great-granddaughter of Henry Merryweather, the horticulturist who first spotted the potential of this unique hybrid apple.
The apple was first sold by Merryweather in 1876 and was named after a future owner of the house and tree, Matthew Bramley.
Merryweather grew scions from the original tree and managed to produce more Bramley apples. Nicknamed the ‘Queen of Covent Garden’, the bramley has become the only British cooking apple available all year round, and its natural acidity is loved by cooks.
Stevens said the original tree, which survived attacks by honey fungus and continues to fruit and send up vigorous new shoots amid a few dead branches, was an important part of Britain’s culinary and fruit history.
“Although it is in its final years, it is quite unique that an apple tree is alive and blooming when it is well over 200 years old,” she said. “It’s the best culinary apple this country has ever produced, and it’s still commercially viable, which is remarkable in itself.”
“To be seen by the public with care and explanation after so many years of service would be very special for Southwell and Nottinghamshire, so to speak. It’s known all over the world – I’ve been to Japan and seen the Bramley industry there for myself. There’s even a Bramley fan club.”
The tree has been cared for and supported by Nottingham Trent University, who have used the cottage as a university residence since its purchase in 2018.
The campaign to buy the cottage and create a heritage center is being supported by a local business which would manage accommodation for tourists – and Bramley fans – within the cottage.
The tree was cloned and last month Stevens attended a special planting of one of its descendants in the garden of Anne Hathaway’s cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon, which was also attended by Bramley fans from Japan. Bramley plantations still produce apples for cooking and cider making around the world.
“How many things are still commercially viable after more than 150 years? » added Stevens. “It’s a very good record and the bramley has earned our respect for what it has brought to this country. It’s a special tree, and we’re not good without trees. It would be nice if the public knew more.”
