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Enormous Apple Tree overhangs part of York City Walls - any info please?

PickledOnionPickledOnion Posts: 15
in Fruit & veg
Hi. Many years ago we went to York and while walking the city walls discovered an enormous apple tree laden with red apples which overhung the walkway on top of the wall.  I have been looking now and again ever since with no success to find any information about it on the web.  We could not reach any apples at the time but there were hundreds and it was a magnificent sight!

Does anyone know what variety it is? or any other information about it?
Would I be able to take a cutting to use as a graft when we are planning to visit again next spring? (don't want to do anything i am not allowed to)
and most importantly, has anyone tasted one of these apples? what was it like?

thank you!


Posts

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    It looks like a lot of the path is available on Google Street View so you might be able to pinpoint the tree if you remember where it was.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I love York and the view from the walls is beautiful. You could also try contacting these people. 
    https://www.yorkwalls.org.uk/?page_id=3693

    I very much doubt that you'd be able to take a cutting, but the link that @pansyface has provided may be able to help  :)
  • PickledOnionPickledOnion Posts: 15
    thank you for your replies! i didnt expect such a quick response! have a nice day x
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    You shouldn't take anything, cuttings, fruit etc, without the owner's permission. If you can track them down you could ask, but you'll probably have better results if you can get the variety name and buy one on the right rootstock for your situation.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • PickledOnionPickledOnion Posts: 15
    hi pansyface - i think i might wait til spring and then take some photos of it as when i checked on the website (thank you) there is a map which has all the fruit trees on it  but i cant remember exact spot so probably best to ask around when i actually have a photo of its location. 

    I was particularly interested in it as if it grows so well in York it would grow in Lancashire too! I doubt very much I will ever find its variety name as with it being massive (40-50ft ish?? hard to tell height while you on a different level) its obviously a very old tree and I doubt whoever planted it kept a record that would be available today. 

    I have a Winter Gem which does well in Lancashire, but rather than buying available varieities I wanted to keep an old forgotten one alive by grafting. But I was really interested if anyone had tasted it first as no point trying to clone a dud!


  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I can recommend Katy as a good heritage apple for less favourable climates. It does well for me at 1000ft elevation in the Welsh hills. It's the best apple I've found for dried apple rings too and I make loads every year. Good for sweetening cooking apples and it's soft enough for juicing too.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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