A NEW era has begun for the National Trust with the employment of its first ever orchard officer and the launch of the 'Mother Orchard Project'. The trust last week announced its new phase in the protection and promotion of traditional orchards. This project is now underway at the trust's Cotehele estate, to preserve and protect varieties of fruit trees particular to the Tamar Valley. The orchard officer will oversee the planting of around 120 varieties and involve the local community in the management of the orchard. The trust hopes that in the long-term the orchard will be harvested to produce apple juice and possibly other apple products such as preserves and cider. Chris Groves, the new orchards officer, said: 'Many traditional orchards have been lost in the last century due to man's desire to improve food production, but also because of a downturn in the popularity of cider. 'At Cotehele we already have a mature orchard of about 90 trees, from which we make traditional apple juice. 'Once the new orchard has matured and with the help of local people, we hope to harvest the apples and put them to good use.' He added that this project would not have been possible without the dedication of Mary Martin and James Evans who have spent the past 25 years saving threatened varieties of apple, cherry and pear in the Tamar Valley.
