Council works to create map of apple trees in the Highlands
APPLE tree and orchard owners in the Highlands are being invited to support a new biodiversity event.
In advance of Apple Day – which will be hosted for the first time in Inverness by the Highland Council’s Floral Hall visitor centre on October 22 – a map of apple trees in the area is being collated by biodiversity officer Jonathan Willet.
Apple Day was established in 1990 by the charity, Common Ground, as an annual celebration of apples, orchards and local distinctiveness. Now in its 21st year it is celebrated by people organising hundreds of local events internationally including one in New York.
Mr Willet said: "Apple Day at the Floral Hall promises to be fun for all of the family. There will be an apple expert on hand to identify apple varieties, apple recipes to browse and apple trees for sale and there will be apple-themed activities to entertain all of the family."
He added: "Inverness and the surrounding area used to have many commercial orchards and market gardens until the 1950s. Many local estates also had orchards too. We are keen to create an apple map to locate where old orchards used to be and if the trees are still there."
Mr Willet also appealed to apple lovers for help in locating a long-lost Highland apple species: "The most northerly apple variety in Scotland is the Coul Blush. It was raised at Coul House in Contin by Sir George Mackenzie in 1827. This apple is a sweet dessert apple with a yellow skin. Are there any of these apples still found in the Highlands? We would like to know."
For more details about the event or to send in the location of an orchard or apple tree for the map contact Mr Willet at jonathan.willet@highland.gov.uk or 01463 702274.