Apples originated in the Middle East more than 4000 years ago fruit and vines have been grown in the UK since the Roman occupation, with specially cultivated apple varieties spreading across Europe to France, arriving in England at around the time of the Norman conquest in 1066.
Henry VIII established the first large scale orchards at Teynham, Kent. He instructed his fruiterer,Richard Harris, to scour the known world for the best varieties!

Victorian explorers found new varieties from all over the world and brought them to Brogdale, in Kent, so developing its orchards and gardens. Brogdale now houses the National Fruit Collection - more than 4000 varieties - with over 30 acres of orchards, and the largest collection of apple varieties in the world (more than 2100 dessert, culinary and cider).

The small orchard we have planted at The Wolseley Centre is home to 34 different varieties of fruit tree, we have tried to find historic varieties from the local area wherever possible.

Read on to find out more!