Apple tree at Gosling Sike ©Helen Roberts
Orchard tree fruit identifier
An orchard tree planting conservation day
Some of our amazing volunteers at Cold Springs Community Nature Reserve
The orchard at Cold Springs Community Nature Reserve has been conceived, planted and cared for by locals in Penrith. As well as free fruit for all, the orchard provides a space for nature and people to enjoy, and an opportunity to maintain Cumbria’s complex fruit tree heritage.
All the varieties here were specially picked – or even grafted – by our neighbours. The trees have all been sourced locally and are managed with wildlife in mind.
Scroll to find out more about each tree and how you can use the fruit at home. If you find rotten or bruised apples, leave them be. The wildlife will still enjoy them!
If you’d like to find out more about our orchard, or help with pruning and maintaining the trees, why not volunteer with us? Or get involved at our fantastic events.
| Variety | Fruit | Use | Harvest time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellison’s Orange | Apple | Eating, cooking, juicing, cider | September |
| King of the Pippins | Apple | Cooking, juicing | September, October |
| Bradley’s Beauty | Apple | Eating, cooking, juicing, cider |
July, August, September, October, November |
| Orleans Reinette | Apple | Eating, cooking | October, November |
| Greenup’s Pippin | Apple | Eating, cooking | September, October |
| Annie Elizabeth | Apple | Eating, cooking | October, November |
| Keswick Codling | Apple | Eating, cooking | August, September |
| Balsam | Apple | Eating, juicing, cider | November |
| Yorkshire Drooper | Apple | Cooking, juicing | September, October |
| King of the Pippins | Apple | Cooking, juicing | September, October |
| Newton Wonder | Apple | Cooking | October |
| Howgate Wonder | Apple | Eating, cooking, cider | October |
| Bountiful | Apple | Cooking | September |
| Grandpa Buxton | Apple | Eating, cooking | October, November |
| Orleans Reinette | Apple | Eating, cooking | October, November |
| Arthur Turner | Apple | Cooking |
August, September, October, November |
| Fortune | Apple | Eating | September |
| St Edmund's Pippin | Apple | Eating | September |
| Peasgood Nonsuch | Apple | Eating, cooking | September |
| Lady Henniker | Apple | Cooking | October |
| Acklam Russet | Apple | Eating, cooking | October |
| Bradley’s Beauty | Apple | Eating, cooking | October, November |
| Lady's Finger of Lancaster | Apple | Cooking | October |
| Ingrid Marie | Apple | Eating, cooking | September |
| Charles Ross | Apple | Eating, cooking, juicing, cider | September |
| Superb | Apple | Eating, cooking | October |
| Brownlee's Russet | Apple | Eating, cooking, juicing, cider | October |
| Red Falstaff | Apple | Eating, juicing | September, October |
| Merryweather | Damson | Eating, cooking | July, August |
| Westmorland | Damson | Eating, cooking | September |
| Shropshire Prune | Damson | Eating, cooking | September, October |
| Count Althann’s | Gage | Eating, cooking |
August, September, October |
| Oullin’s Gage | Gage | Eating, cooking | August |
| Cambridge Gage | Gage | Eating, cooking | August |
| Hessle | Pear | Eating, cooking, juicing | October |
| Triomphe de Vienne | Pear | Eating, juicing | September |
| Conference | Pear | Eating, juicing | September, October, November |
| Beth | Pear | Eating, cooking | August, September |
| Concorde | Pear | Eating, cooking, juicing | September, October |
| Marjorie’s Seedling | Plum | Eating, cooking | September |
| Yellow Pershore | Plum | Eating, cooking | August |
| Czar | Plum | Eating, cooking | August |
| Victoria | Plum | Eating, cooking | August, September |
| River’s Early Prolific | Plum | Eating, cooking | July, August |
| Laxton’s Cropper | Plum | Eating, cooking | September |
Make that difference for the wildlife you love
- Free entry to our nature reserves.
- Free nature reserve guide.
- Cumbrian Wildlife magazine three times a year with accompanying 'What's On' guide.
- Plus more! From just £3.50 a month/£42 a year (based on Individual membership)