List created with input from the East of England Apples & Orchard Project.
Books on loan for GOG members only.
Books are held in the GOG library available from Ann Smith in Churchdown and can be viewed or borrowed free of charge by prior arrangement. Several are kept by Chairman Dave Kaspar at the GOG Orchard & Rural Skills Centre at Brookthorpe.
We endeavour to display the library at orchard events throughout the year, including our AGM in February.
We also have an extensive range of leaflets and other informative orchard-related literature.
Native Apples of Gloucestershire by Charles Martell (2008)
Available as a PDF or Word document on the GOG website. Superb descriptions and photographs available to download and print under Apples.
www.gloucestershireorchardgroup.org.uk
Native Plums (prunus) of Gloucestershire by Charles Martell (2007)
This is also available on the GOG website under Plums and you can print this off from the website. Photographs and descriptions.
Apples Identification (2007) by Simon Clark & Quentin Cleal
Pears Identification (2007) by Simon Clark of the Northern Fruit Group/NOF & Quentin Cleal (NOF)
Both booklets (£6) can be purchased from Simon on 0113 266 3235 simonclark49@gmail.com
They use the method developed by Rene Marlaud, a French pomologist in 2005. The Pear Key requires the Marlaud book, whereas the Apple Key stands alone. You can also purchase the Marlaud book (not English!) via Simon. “Methode de Determination des Varietes de Poires (Societe Pomologique du Berry)”
Perry Pears by Luckwill & Pollard/Long Ashton/Ray Williams
From Vigo Ltd (Devon) price £25.00 + delivery £2.50 sales@vigoltd.com Tel: 01404 890262 Fax: 01404 890263
The National Apple Register of the United Kingdom 1971 By Muriel Smith
A facsimile edition published by Langford Press, Peterborough, 2002 Hardback, 652 pages Dimensions: (210mm x 305mm) 8¼ins x 12ins ISBN: 1-897604-28-9 Limited edition of 600 copies. Published price: £60.00 Brief descriptions, historical notes and synonyms of the thousands of varieties recorded in the UK over the centuries, including many ‘lost’ varieties. Contains many useful text references. No illustrations.
The English Apple By Rosanne Saunders
Published by Phaidon Press, Oxford, 1988 Hardback, 144 pages, 120 pages of colour illustrations featuring 122 apple varieties, plus black and white illustrations. Dimensions: (245mm x 290mm) 9_ins x 11½ins ISBN: 0-7148-2498-4 (out of print, second-hand £30.00 plus). A classic book, with life-sized high-quality illustrations and with very detailed accompanying descriptive notes on appearance, flavour and history. Includes chapters on apple classification and growing apples.
The Fruit Manual, 1884 By Robert Hogg
A facsimile edition published by Langford Press, Peterborough, 2005 Hardback, 800 pages, with black and white illustrations Dimensions: (157mm x 228mm) 6ins x 9ins ISBN: 1-904078-03-6 Limited edition of 1000 copies. Published price: £40.00 Encompasses all of the named fruits popular at the time, with histories, descriptions of their key features, synonyms and Hogg’s useful illustrated fruit classification systems.
Apples: A Field Guide By Michael Clark
Published by Whittet Books, Stowmarket, in association with the Brogdale Horticultural Trust, 2003.
Hardback, 176 pages, 130 apple varieties shown as colour photos, plus black and white illustrations
Dimensions: (177mm x 252mm) 7ins x 10ins ISBN: 1-873580-57-6. Published price: £19.99
The most up-to-date guide to identification, including several ‘modern’ varieties. The apples are listed in the now standard classification groups with detailed historical descriptions and notes to aid their identification.
A Somerset Pomona By Liz Copaz
Published by Dovecote Press, Wimborne, 2001
Softback, 80 pages, 91 colour photographs showing 86 apple varieties with accompanying black and white illustrations, 11 additional black and white photographs Dimensions: (265mm x 242mm) 10½ins x 9½ins
ISBN: 1-874336-87-3 Published price £13.95
Celebrates the changing fortunes of cider-making in Somerset and describes in great detail the various apple varieties grown in the county over the centuries. With full identification notes.
The Herefordshire Pomona of 1885
By The Woolhope Naturalists Field Club
Published by Marcher Apple Network, 2005
CD format, 77 colour plates showing 432 varieties of fruit (apples, pears, perry pears and cider apples) with accompanying detailed descriptions and black and white illustrations. Cross referenced and fully indexed
Order from: www.marcherapple.net ISBN: none. Published price £16.00 inc. p&p
Digital technology has helped to make this rare and important historical book of apple and pears readily available and affordable. Original copies are often priced at more than £5000.
Vintage Fruit - Cider Apples & Perry Pears
Published by Marcher Apple Network, 2007
CD format, 30 colour plates from the Knight’s Pomona (1811), 35 colour plates from Bulmers Pomona (1987) and 12 colour plates from the Herefordshire Pomona (1885). Cross referenced with each other and also with The Apple and Pear as Vintage Fruits (1886), Perry Pears, and Cider Apples and their Characteristics. Many accompanying black and white illustrations. Fully indexed
Order from: www.marcherapple.net ISBN: 978-0-9555621-0-5 Published Price £16.00 inc. p&p
A modern masterpiece, combining for the first time the five most important historical books on the UK’s cider apples and perry pears.
Apples of the Welsh Marches compiled by the Marcher Apple Network (2002)
A delightful book (25 pages) with many colourful photographs depicting old varieties grown in the traditional orchards of the West Midlands and Wales. Those included: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Wales. Price £4 (inc p&p) from Diggory Kempton (MAN) Brook House, The Red Lane, Hopesay, Craven Arms, Shropshire, SY7 8HD www.marcherapple.net
The Apples of England By H.V. Taylor
Published by Crosby Lockwood & Son, London, 1936 Hardback, 205 pages, 36 apple varieties as colour photographic plates. Dimensions: (197mm x 247mm) 7_ins x 9_ins ISBN: none (out of print, second-hand £20.00 plus)
Several reprints means that this volume is readily available. Chapters on history, science, cultivation and uses plus an index of several hundred varieties (many now ‘lost’) featuring details of internal and external characteristics plus references. Also includes a useful classification system for grouping different varieties according to appearance.
The Plums of England By H.V. Taylor
Published by Crosby Lockwood & Son, London, 1949 Hardback, 152 pages, 32 plum varieties as colour photographic plates Dimensions: (197mm x 247mm) 7_ins x 9_ins
ISBN: none (out of print, second-hand £20.00 plus)
Presented in the same format as The Apples of England and the only guide to plums readily available. Very detailed descriptions of over a hundred plum, gage, damson and bullace varieties, plus chapters on classification, cultivation, history, pests and diseases.
Cherries By Norman H. Grubb
Published by Crosby Lockwood & Son, London, 1949 Hardback, 196 pages, 12 cherry varieties as colour photographic plates, 40 black and white accompanying photographs. Dimensions: (197mm x 247mm) 7_ins x 9_ins ISBN: none (out of print, second-hand £20.00 plus)
Presented in the same format at The Apples of England with an index and identification notes describing over one hundred varieties.
Mazzards by Michael Gee
(of North Devon’s Orchards Live Orchard Group)
Pears By Jim Arbury & Sally Pinhey
Published by Wells & Winter, Maidstone, 1997 Hardback, 103 pages, 15 pages of colour illustrations featuring 55 pear varieties, plus accompanying black and white illustrations Dimensions: (220mm x 305mm) 8½ins x 12ins ISBN: 0-9532136-0-9 Chapters cover general history and cultivation together with detailed notes on appearance, picking and using times and flavour. www.sallypinhey.com/books.htm
Plums by Jim Arbury & Sally Pinhey
ISBN No 981-04-4907-0 £ 29.36 from www.sallypinhey.com/books.htm
Apples: A Guide to the Identification of International Varieties By John Bultitude
Published by Macmillan Press, London, 1983. Also published by the University of Washington Press, Seattle, USA Hardback, 323 pages, black and white profiles and colour photos of 160 varieties.
ISBN: 0295960418 (out of print, second-hand £50.00 plus)
A very rare book. Academic but accessible, explaining the accepted modern apple classification system. It is worth searching for second-hand copies on US or Canadian websites.
Martin Crawford series
Directory of Apple Cultivars, Pear Cultivars, Plum, Cherries, Nuts
www.agroforestry.co.uk from the Agroforestry Research Trust.
The new Book of Apples by Joan Morgan and Alison Richards
The definitive guide to apples, including over 2000 varieties. An updated version of Joan Morgan’s 1993 classic The Book of Apples. Ideal for the grower, consumer and historian and beautifully illustrated. £35 Ebury Press 2002.
The Book of Apples by Joan Morgan and Alison Richards (1993)
Nutshell Guides to Growing Hazelnuts, Walnuts etc. by Clive Simms
In A Nutshell – the story of Kentish Cobnuts by Meg Game
The Story of the Apple by Barrie Juniper & Mabberley
The Compleat Planter & Cyderist by Barrie & Sarah Juniper
Beningfields Orchards
Good Practice Guide for Managing Orchards
The Good Practice Guide for Managing Orchard Projects "Protecting our Orchards Heritage" is now completed and printed. It is available to download as a pdf from Sustain's website www.sustainweb.org/publications/
Ida is grateful to the input of many individuals, orchard groups and other organizations. We have 2 copies in our library and is well worth a look, teeming with practical advice for all interested in heritage varieties, community orchards, wildlife and putting fruit to good use. Not just about apples, but pears/perry pears, plums, damsons and importantly, nuts.
Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming
94 White Lion Street, London N1 9PF Tel: 020 7837 1228 Fax: 020 7837 1141
Email: ida@sustainweb.org Web: www.sustainweb.org
Orchards and Groves: their History, Ecology, Culture & Archaeology by Ian Rotheram
Butterfly Conservation’s Survey for Mistletoe Marble 2009
Biodiversity in Community Gardens, Orchards and Allotments (booklet) by Tayside Biodiversity Partnership (2008)
British Wildlife- Collins
Growing Cider Apples: a Guide to Good Orchard Practice by Umpelby & Copas
Cider in the Three Counties by Fiona Mac
Craft Cider Making by Andrew Lea
Community Orchard Handbook by Common Ground (2008)
£10 each (& £2 p&p). A5 spiral bound, 226 pages, 90 colour photos. Order online www.commonground.org.uk (paypal) or send a cheque anytime from now onwards to Common Ground, Gold Hill House, 21 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8JE +44(0)1747 850820 (GOG has ordered 3 copies for the library). This promises to be a highly informative book for the many community orchards in Gloucestershire. Common Ground also publish a large range of leaflets on orchards, including one on community orchards.
The Apple Source Book (2007) by Sue Clifford & Angela King
£16.99.This book celebrates Common Ground “coming of age” – eighteen years since Apple Day and the concept of community orchards was invented by them. Sue gave an inspirational talk at Cheltenham’s Literary Festival and launched the book. She praised heritage orchard groups all over the UK who share the vision. Many recipes are included by well-known chefs. A gazetteer of county by county varieties is listed, plus many nurseries and other useful contacts. www.commonground.org.uk and www.england-in-particular.info
Common Ground, Gold Hill House, 21 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8JE +44(0)1747 850820
Common Ground pamphlets and Orchard book
National Apple Day Starter Pack (booklet) by Gartmore Primary School, Scotland
(GOG has more information on Orchards and Schools - contact us).
A range of recipe books, including Fruits of the Hedgerow & Fruity Stories
Range of Tree Council Tree Books
Grow Your Own Fruit by Ken Muir
Complete Fruit Book by Bob Flowerdew
The Fruit Expert by D.G. Hessayon
Growing Apples by Robert Atkinson
Man-made Eden: Historic Orchards of Somerset and Gloucestershire by James Russell (Oct 2007)
ISBN 978-1-904537-75-5, 160pp, with extensive colour illustrations. Softback £15, Publisher: Redcliffe Press Ltd.
“The West Country is famed for its orchards, but why are they here? As the campaign to save and celebrate English orchards gathers momentum, this book explores their fascinating and – until now – neglected history.
Why is Glastonbury known as Avalon, the Isle of Apples? What made Redstreak Cyder the most popular drink of the seventeenth century? Who was Dr Ashmead, cultivator of the connoisseur’s favourite apple, Ashmead’s Kernel? How did a Somerset vicar come to make cider for Queen Victoria? This rich, wide-ranging book takes a long historic look at changing fashions and fortunes – asking why thirteenth-century monks and Edwardian landowners planted orchards, and why post-war governments paid farmers to destroy them. The author argues that Apple Day (October 21) should be made our national autumn holiday. He examines the role of Common Ground, the National Trust and other organisations in preserving and restoring orchards, and asks: what can we do to make our orchards as profitable as they were in centuries past? James Russell has written for the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian, Countryman Magazine, BBC History Magazine, British Heritage, Somerset Life, the Bristol and Bath Magazines, Venue and many other publications.”
Author interviews: James Russell 0117 9662018 email: jdrussell2@hotmail.com
Footnote: Includes Days Cottage (Dave and Helen) and on the book’s cover photograph!
We may be able to get a discount on the above book if we buy in sets of 3. Please contact Helen Brent-Smith 01452 813602 if interested.
Dorset Orchards (very useful Local History Advice)
Westbury Court Garden (booklet) – the National Trust
Includes heritage fruit – they hold an Apple Day each year
Newburgh Orchard Survey (Scotland) – CD
The Story of Eveshams Orchards by the Vale Landscape Heritage Trust
The Grafters Handbook by Garner
2010 GOG library acquisitions
Rivers Nursery of Sawbridgeworth - The Art of Practical Pomology by Elizabeth Waugh with Rivers Nursery Site and Orchard Group (2009)
Tree Fruit Growing Volume 2 - Pears, Quinces and Stone Fruits by Raymond Bush (1946)
Harvesting and Storing Garden Fruit by Raymond Bush (1947)
Favourite Apple Recipes by J. Salmon Ltd
Not in GOG Library but useful
Apples in Scotland by John Butterworth (2001)
Price £6.95 (inc p&p), published by Langford Press ISBN 1-904078-00-1 www.butterworthsorganicnursery.co.uk
Chichester District Council Guide
Chichester District Council Guide to Setting up and Managing a Community Orchard
Available to download as a PDF from their website www.chichester.gov.uk Follow the links within Environment & Planning: Biodiversity.
Fruit-Related Literature
Want to keep abreast of fruit-related literature from the journals? Then look at the National Orchard Forum website www.nat-orchard-forum.org.uk “From The Literature” for the latest topics. Thanks to Simon Clark.
To purchase your own copy of Fruit/Orchard Books you may need to look in second hand bookshops for some of these, or see www.abebooks.co.uk
Technical Information Notes for traditional orchard management
Please see our technical information notes page for information »
