Historic apples saved by the Co-op

The Co-operative Group has turned to the bottle to help save two historic apple varieties from disappearing.

The retail group has created its first premium dry reserve cider to save Tillington Ladies’ Finger and Nottingham Colonel from being consigned to an apple gene bank.

The Co-op’s farming operation, Farmcare, is using the apples, together with other varieties including Bulmers Norman and Yarlington Mill, to make its limited edition Tillington Hills Premium Dry Reserve Cider.

The new drink will go on sale at selected stores from today, August 1.

William Barnett, who head Farmcare’s fruit-growing operation at Tillington, said the varieties had long histories: “Tillington Ladies’ Finger has been grown here since the 1800s and the last apple tree was on its way out, it might have been the end of the apple.

“But now we’re using the apples in Tillington Hills cider we’re able to plant more and keep it, and other varieties, alive. It’s a very exciting project.”