Campaigners ‘gobsmacked’ as garden containing original Bramley apple tree sold
The sale of the orchard containing the original Bramley apple tree has left campaigners who want to turn it into a heritage site “stunned”.
Millions of saplings worldwide have emerged from the over 200-year-old tree.
It was planted by Mary Ann Brailsford in her parents’ garden in Church Street, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, between 1809 and 1815.
Artist Dan Llywelyn Hall has co-founded a campaign to buy the country house from Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and turn it into a heritage and education site to ensure public access.
On Friday Mr Llywelyn Hall was informed by the university that the garden had been purchased privately by the owners of the neighboring cottage.
Campaigners raised £14,000 from more than 320 donations worldwide.
Mr Llywelyn Hall said: “This is a very sad day for our ancient heritage trees.
“All institutions have failed, and ironically Nottingham Trent University, an environmental and agricultural university, has done so. We are all stunned.”
The university said it was supporting the tree’s new custodians with advice on how to care for the ancient tree.
An NTU spokesman said: “We are pleased that custody of the tree has been transferred to the owners of the neighboring property, Bramley Tree Cottage.
“Historically Bramley was in this garden so it’s great to be able to support the return to its original home.
“Joshua and Alicia Wheatley approached NTU to express their interest in purchasing the garden where the tree is located and their determination to continue to care for and celebrate the tree and its legacy.
“The university is now supporting the new custodians with advice on how to care for Bramley, which is well past its natural life.
“NTU has also taken steps to devolve the garden, which will include certain obligations, to ensure the ongoing care, protection and maintenance of Bramley and maintain public access to events.
“The university-owned cottage, previously used for student accommodation, remains listed for sale.”
Almost 50 years after Mrs. Brailsford planted trees in the cottage garden, a 17-year-old boy named Henry Merryweather encountered a gardener carrying some apples and asked where they were grown.
By this time, the orchard containing the apple tree belonged to a butcher named Matthew Bramley, who allowed the youth to cut down the “Bramley Seedling” before the fruit became a staple in cooking.
Celia Stevens, Mr Merryweather’s great-granddaughter, said the original Bramley tree was “an important part of the history of the fruit”.
He said: “It would be very special for Southwell, so to speak, to be seen with public interest and commentary after so many years of service.
“It deserves recognition, and this venerable old fruit tree deserves the many accolades it has received over the years.”
The Bramley apple has become one of the UK’s most popular cooking apples, with over 300 Bramley growers in the UK and around 83,000 tonnes grown annually in the UK.
The original Bramley tree was featured as one of 50 Trees of Great Britain at the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002, and was one of 70 ancient trees to be dedicated to the Queen for her Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
