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 at Brogdale and become
one of the supporters 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.
The Friends of the National Fruit Collections at Brogdale are an independent
organisation.
To register as a Friend go to: http://www.fruitforum.net/inforequest.aspx
Friends of the National Fruit Collections at Brogdale enjoy:
- Friends Days organised at Brogdale when we make private visits to the
Collections and over the season explore their full range of fruits and
varieties. Days also include talks, discussions and tastings.
- Friends Newsletter with news from the Friends, the Collections and Brogdale
by e-mail; for printed copies we ask a small contribution ( currently £5) to
cover costs.
- Friends £15 Brogdale 2009 Season Ticket which gives access to the
Collections through guided and self guided walks throughout the season and
admission to Brogdale Festivals. This may be purchased from Brogdale
Collections.
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 are 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 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.
|
