Introduction
Filby Community Orchard, January 2010, looking towards the area being prepared for phase three.
Filby Community Orchard, January 2010.
The Filby Orchard Village Project is a partnership between the Filby in Bloom team on behalf of the village, Norfolk County Council, Planning and Transportation Department and The East of England Apples and Orchards Project.
The project aims:
- To create and maintain an orchard within the village for the enjoyment of the residents.
- To create and maintain smaller groups of trees on smaller sites where appropriate.
- To work with partners, such as the East of England Apples and Orchards Project, to secure this aim.
- To use local varieties to endeavour to ensure their long term future.
- To make suitable trees, stakes, guards, ties etc. available, at reasonable cost, for residents to plant within their own property.
The project also contributes towards combatting climate change by capturing CO2 from the atmosphere.
- Phase One: 2007 - 2008
- Phase Two: 2008 - 2009
- The Team
- Species List
- Filby Orchard Project Story
- Filby Orchard Project Planting List
Phase One: 2007 - 2008
The Trees
We are using trees supplied by the East of England Apples and Orchards Project.
What makes them special is that they are all varieties native to Norfolk. By using them in the project we will be helping to ensure the survival of these varieties.
We started with a selection of seven varieties, one dual use variety, three cookers (culinary) and three eaters (dessert):
- Green Roland
- Norfolk Beefing
- Vicar of Beighton
- Summer Broaden
- Horsford Prolific
- Sandringham
- Red Ellison
In More Detail
Green Roland
1800s, Pick late September, use October - November
Probably arose in East Norfolk in the 1800s where it is known locally as 'Norfolk Green Queen' and around Rollesby near Great Yarmouth as 'John Shreeve'. It was widely planted in east Anglia during WW2 when sugar was rationed and until the 1960s was a popular market gardeners' choice. Medium to large in size. Dull green skin with an occasional pinkish-brown flush. Cooks to a firm puree needing little sugar.
BackNorfolk Beefing
1698, pick mid October, use December - April
Known in Norfolk for centuries, the earliest record is in the Mannington Hall Estate records of the Walpole family, but it may have originated in France or possibly Holland. A very long-keeping, tough skinned and firm fleshed purple flushed apple. Excellent for making dried apple rings, and for baking slowly in a cool oven to make 'Biffins' - once a Victorian delicacy at Christmas time. Has good scab resistance.
BackVicar of Beighton
1890, pick early October, use December to February.
Assumed to have been raised as a seedling at Beighton, near Acle, probably by the Rev. Alfred Fellows. Introduced by Daniels Bros., Norwich nurserymen, in 1890. Attractive, large and almost totally flushed red, with some russet. Sweet, soft flesh.
BackSummer Broaden
1796, pick mid September, use September - October
Place of origin not known. Also known as Norfolk Summer Broadend. In the 1800s it was recorded as being a popular cottage-garden apple and sold on the Norwich markets. Large and irregularly shaped, yellow skinned with orangey-red flush and stripes. Sharp and fruity to taste and keeps shape when cooked.
BackHorsford Prolific
1900, pick mid - October, use December - March.
Arose in the garden of the Rev. Mountford of Horsford, near Norwich. Grown commercially on a small scale locally and sometimes sold as 'Queen Anne'. A very attractive apple. Medium to large in size. Yellow skinned with a bright orangey-red flush. Some broken red stripes. Flesh is sweet, crisp and juicy. Has good scab resistance.
BackSandringham
1883, pick mid October, use November - February.
Raised by Mr Penny, Head Gardener at Sandringham House, near King's Lynn, and first exhibited at the National Apple Congress in 1883. It is believed to be a seedling of the UK variety Winter Pearmain and was first sold by Veitch's of London. It became a popular variety for gardens. A large green-skinned apple with some red stripes. Keeps well and mellows with storage. Sweet and firm fleshed.
Has been described as vigorous.
BackRed Ellison
1948, pick mid - September, use September - October
A more highly coloured red 'sport' of Ellison's Orange, discovered growing in the Fenland orchards of Harold Selby of Walpole St. Peter. Medium sized. Sweet and slightly aromatic flavour. Very good scab and mildew resistance.
Also described as vigorous.
BackThese notes include information taken from publications © the East of England Apples and Orchards Project with permission.
Phase Two: 2008 - 2009
BackThe Trees
We are again using trees from the East of England Apples and Orchards Project.
What makes them special is that they are all varieties native to Norfolk. By using them in the project we continue to help to ensure the survival of these varieties.
This year we are using a selection of fifteen varieties, four dual use variety, four cookers (culinary), five eaters (dessert), one culinary variety of Norfolk pear and one desert variety:
- Adam‘s Pearmain
- Hubbard‘s Pearmain
- Hunter‘s Majestic
- Baxter‘s Pearmain
- Striped Beefing
- Norfolk Beefing
- Winter Broaden
- Emneth Early
- St. Magdalen
- New Costessey Seedling
- Norfolk Royal Russet
- Look East
- Jordan‘s Weeping
- Hacon‘s Incomparable
- Robin Pear
In More Detail
Adam‘s Pearmain
1826, pick early October, use November to March
Arose either in Norfolk or Herefordshire (where it is called Hanging Pearmain). In 1826 Robert Adams sent a scion of "Norfolk Pippin" to the Horticultural Society in London. It was later marketed commercially as "Adam's Pearmain" and became an essential fruit for Victorian and Edwardian gardens. A medium sized pearmain-shaped apple with bright orange-red flush and russet. Complex nutty, aromatic, sweet flavour. Has good scab resistance.
BackHubbard‘s Pearmain
1796, pick mid September, use October to January
First sold by George Lindley, nurseryman, of Catton near Norwich. In the 19th century Norfolk it was a very popular gardeners' choice and its flavour was considered unsurpassable. Small to medium sized and pearmain shaped. Green skinned with a lot of russeting and usually with an orange flush. Sweet, rich and complex flavour. Has good scab resistance.
BackHunter‘s Majestic
1914, pick mid September, use September to October
Raised sometime before 1914 by Miss E Balding at Upwell, near Wisbech, probably from a seed of a Worcester Pearmain apple. Grown on a small scale commercially in the Fens during the 1930s by the Hunter-Rowe family. Large attractive red-flushed and striped yellow-skinned apple. Becomes less acidic with storage.
BackBaxter‘s Pearmain
1821, pick mid October, use November to January
Introduced by George Lindley, nurseryman of Catton, near Norwich. Medium sized. Yellow skinned with some russet and an orangey-red flush. Keeps well. Complex, sweet flavour.
BackStriped Beefing
1794, pick early October, use December to April
Named and found growing in the gardens of Mr. Crowe of Lakenham, near Norwich, by the nurseryman George Lindley. Often very large apple, mid-green in colour with bold red stripes and a red flush. A long-keeper and keeps shape well when cooked. Needs little sugar.
BackNorfolk Beefing
1698, pick mid October, use December - April
Known in Norfolk for centuries, the earliest record is in the Mannington Hall Estate records of the Walpole family, but it may have originated in France or possibly Holland. A very long-keeping, tough skinned and firm fleshed purple flushed apple. Excellent for making dried apple rings, and for baking slowly in a cool oven to make 'Biffins' - once a Victorian delicacy at Christmas time. Has good scab resistance.
BackWinter Broaden
1819, pick mid October, use October to January
Once commonly grown in the east and Broads region of the county. A large flattish, yellowish green skinned apple. Tinged red with some broken red stripes and sometimes a little russet. Only slightly acidic.
BackEmneth Early
1899, pick early August, use August to September
Raised by William 'Billy' Lynn of Emneth by crossing two UK codlin-type cultivars: Lord Grosvenor and Keswick Codlin. Once an important early season UK apple grown mainly around Wisbech for jam manufacturers. It was first sold by Cross's the Wisbech nurserymen. A medium sized 'codlin'. Smooth-skinned and yellowish green in colour. Cooks to a sharp tasting 'fluffy' puree. Also known as Early Victoria. Has a good scab, mildew and canker resistance.
BackSt. Magdalen
1890, pick early October, use October to December
Discovered growing at Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen near Downham Market in the orchards of Mr H Bridge. Medium sized and quite Cox-like in flavour but more highly coloured. Has good scab resistance.
BackNew Costessey Seedling
1926, pick early October, use October to January
Arose from a seed planted by George Fayers at New Costessey, near Norwich. Original pip may have been from the variety Lord Lambourne. Shown in Local horticultural events for many years. Medium-sized greenish yellow skinned with a deep red flush and occasional russet scattered over the surface. Cream-coloured sweet crisp flesh. Was introduced in the 1990s by Ranworth Trees Nurseries, near Norwich.
BackNorfolk Royal Russet
1983, pick early September, use October to January
A russeted 'sport' of Norfolk Royal discovered growing in the garden of Rev. C. Wright at Burnham Overy Staithe. It was first introduced by Highfields Nursery of Gloucester in 1983. A typical 'nutty' tasting russet, it has become a popular local gardeners' choice and is now grown by several farm shops in Norfolk. Has good scab and mildew resistance.
BackLook East
1971, pick mid October, use November to January
Raised by Ormonde Knight at Yaxham by crossing Cox's Orange Pippin with Blenheim Orange and named after the BBC regional news programme. It was first sold commercially in the 1990s by Ranworth Trees Nursery. Medium-sized and Cox-like in appearance but with a darker red flush. A long keeper. Complex, Cox-like flavour and firm fleshed.
BackJordan‘s Weeping
pre 1940, pick mid October, use October to December
Discovered by Douglas Jordan growing in a garden at Horning in the Broads it is unique amongst apple cultivars for its pronounced weeping growth habit. The original tree may have come from a Cheshire nursery but its name is not known. In the 1980s it started to be marketed as a garden tree by Deacon's Nurseries on the Isle of Wight. The apples are medium sized, yellow skinned with a reddish orange flush. Sweet and firm flesh.
BackHacon‘s Incomparable
1792, pick mid October, use October to November
Origins confused. Arose in Downham Market. Either as a chance seedling found growing in a baker's yard in 1792 by Mrs Rayner, or it was propagated from 'Rayner's Norfolk Seedling' by J G Hacon around 1814. A handsome mid-green coloured, medium sized pear that keeps its shape when cooked. Sweet flavoured.
BackRobin Pear
pre 1900, pick late August, use August to September
Origin unknown but may be the old 'lost' variety London Sugar, listed in the catalogue of George Lindley, of Catton, Norwich, in 1796. Can still be seen on Norwich markets and elsewhere. a small red-flushed dessert pear best eaten very soon after picking.
The are several large, old Robin pear trees to be found in the paddocks adjacent to the Community Orchard.
BackThese notes include information taken from publications © the East of England Apples and Orchards Project with permission.
BackThe Team
The orchard project team comprises:
- Keith Johnson - Co-ordinator
- Joan Saul - Originator of the project
- Victor Tungate
- Lesley Johnson
- Bernard Bell
- Ken Saul
- The Saturday Crew - helped with planting phase one
Species List
We are compiling a list of the different species of flora and fauna seen at the site. As the orchard matures we hope it will provide a home for a wide range of native species.
The species list can be found at: species list
BackFilby Orchard Project Story
To follow the story of our orchard project as it unfolds go to: the story of our orchard
BackFilby Orchard Project Planting List
Show where each tree is and, in time, tell of its progress:
planting list 2008 planting list 2009 Back
