Varietal Research
Preserving Gloucestershire's Fruit Heritage
The Gloucestershire Orchard Trust is committed to identifying, documenting, and preserving the county's unique heritage fruit varieties. Our varietal research program is essential to understanding and conserving Gloucestershire's pomological heritage.
Our Research Focus
We conduct extensive research into three main categories of fruit:
- Apples - Including dessert, culinary, and cider varieties native to or historically grown in Gloucestershire
- Perry Pears - The traditional pears used to make perry, Gloucestershire's signature drink
- Plums - Heritage plum varieties that have been cultivated in the county for generations
Research Methods
Our varietal research involves:
- Orchard surveys and fruit identification
- Historical documentation and archive research
- DNA analysis and pomological description
- Collaboration with national fruit collections
- Recording oral histories from local growers
Key Publications
Our research has resulted in several important publications:
- Native Apples of Gloucestershire (PDF)
- Perry Pears of Gloucestershire (PDF)
- Gloucestershire Plums (PDF)
Identification Services
We offer fruit identification services to help identify unknown varieties found in old orchards. Visit our Identification page to learn more about this service.
Browse Our Collections
Explore our documented varieties: