Heritage trust wins award for saving UK perry pears

Jim Chapman (L) from Hartpury Heritage Trust won the award for his work cultivating perry pears

A heritage trust has been recognised for its work to stop the UK's perry pears from becoming extinct.

The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) honoured Hartpury Heritage Trust in Gloucester with a Pomona Award for its outstanding contribution to the promotion of real cider or perry.

The trust cultivates more than 100 varieties of the fruit across 30 acres of orchards and wetlands, which are then used to create the pear equivalent of cider.

"Future generations can enjoy perry made from pears that have been saved from the brink by the trust and I cannot think of a more worthy winner," said Pomona Award co-ordinator Andrea Briers.

Jim Chapman, from the trust, started his collection of perry pears in 1999 and donated land for the creation of an orchard centre in the early-2000s.

Hartpury Orchard Centre has more than 100 varieties of perry pear trees

The Hartpury Orchard Centre is now home to the National Collection of perry pears as well as a collection of Gloucestershire apples, plums and cherries.

Mr Chapman said winning the award was a "total surprise and a great honour".

"I have always felt a close affinity for perry since I enjoyed my first glass in the 1960s," he added.

The Pomona Award, which is named after the Roman goddess of apples, will be presented at the Malvern Autumn show later.