Don't miss the Apple Festival at Brogdale - 20/21 October

Brogdale Collections is the Kent charity that provides public access to the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale Farm, near Faversham. There are orchard tours throughout the year and weekend festivals of cherries, cider and apples in July, September and October. Fruit days including soft fruit, plums and cobnuts add to the diversity of fruit available to the public. Brogdale Collections is developing the educational possibilities of the heritage and stories of the fruit varieties National Fruit Collection and how the gene bank in the Collection is being used to develop varieties for the future, together with new ways of growing fruit and its importance in our diet and health. We have curriculum Key Stages 1 and 2 programmes and courses about fruit. By creating awareness and interest in The National Fruit Collection we will enhance the long term sustainable future for the living collection at Brogdale.

Brogdale is the Home of the National Fruit Collection which is a national collection of 4000 varieties* of twelve major temperate fruits and is of worldwide importance.

• The collection includes 2,000 varieties of apples (dessert and cooking), 520 pears (desert, cooking and Asian), 320 plums (including dessert and cooking plums, gages, mirabelles and quetches), 320 cherries (including dessert and sour cherries), 120 cider apples and perry pears, 40 grapes (including dessert and wine grapes), 10 apricots, 20 quinces, 4 medlars, 155 gooseberries, 100 black currents and 100 red, white and pink currants. There is also a collection of ornamental cherries, apples and pears.


• It is based at Brogdale Farm, Faversham, Kent where it has been since 1952.


• The Collection is owned by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) on behalf of the nation as a scientific resource for developing future food crops. Public access to the Collection is managed by the charity Brogdale Collections for Defra.


• Visitors to Brogdale and the National Fruit Collection vary widely in their interest in fruit. Many come for the first time because they are simply entranced by the idea of so many fruits and so many varieties to taste at the festivals. More regular visitors want to experience this diversity through the seasons and to learn more about fruit and how to cultivate it. Garden fruit growers want to learn more about what they can grow and to taste the varieties and find the ones they like before they grow them.


• The Brogdale site continues with plans for offering new and exciting features, including new local shops, a plant centre, meeting and events rooms, workshops and classes. The new Brogdale website will also grow, keeping visitors up to date with new developments, businesses, festivals and events.