The Welsh Perry and Cider Society have secured Heritage Lottery Funding for a two-year project called ‘The Heritage of Orchards and Cider Making in Wales’. The project aims to secure the future of Welsh varieties of cider apples and perry pears. They are doing so via three strands: working with community groups across Wales to plant new orchards or regenerate old ones; capturing the stories of modern day cider-making in Wales; looking at the heritage varieties of cider apple and perry pear within Wales, including DNA testing on unknown trees (cider or perry), single variety fermentation trials and creation of an additional three museum orchards of the known Welsh heritage varieties.

They are searching for old cider apple and perry pear trees to take part in our Spring 2017 DNA testing. If you think you may have an old Cider or Perry tree in Wales, or have any stories you could tell them about Welsh orchards and cider making, please contact them at heritage@welshcider.co.uk or 01495 240983.