A GOOD English apple may be a thing of the past but not in Tenbury Wells.

Golden Pippin, Hereford Beefing, William Crump, Peasgood Nonsuch and Lord Derby may no longer be on the family shopping lists, but for a touch of apple history take a stroll through Tenbury's Millennium Orchard, just off the A456 at Burford.

Thirty-nine varieties of apple and pear trees are getting ready to burst into blossom.

With Easter on the horizon, the 1.5 mile, historically interesting walk from the ancient Teme Bridge across the fields on a path north of the river is well worth the effort anytime. writes Jen Green.

The suggestion that one of the town's millennium projects should be an orchard was one of a dozen or ideas put forward by the public in 1998. A major problem was the acquisition of a suitable piece of land within a manageable budget and reasonably close to town.

Following an article in the Advertiser, Charles Chesshire, a director at Burford House and Gardens, offered some land that had become remote from the estate.

An agreement was reached and a team of volunteers set to work cutting down a mass of five-foot-high brambles, burning them and digging out the roots.

At this point Frank P. Matthews, local fruit tree specialists from Berrington, came on board. They rotavated the area and undertook to provide and look after the trees in the early stages. Thirty eight sponsors paid for planting costs and hopes were high that they would continue to take an interest as the trees grew.

In glorious weather on May Bank Holiday Monday 2001, the Rev. Keith Crouch from the local team ministry, led about 60 people in a service of blessing, and Tenbury's millennium project was up and running.

However, like many similar projects, day to day funding is always in short supply.

Peter Barrington, chairman of the Millennium Orchard Committee and his group of volunteers work hard organising apple and ploughman's suppers, quizzes and other events to keep things ticking over.

He said: "So many friends have helped us establish the orchard proving that here is plenty of good will about Tenbury.

"We rely on people for grass cutting duties and keeping the orchard up to scratch.

"Last year when I was photographed for the Advertiser using a hedging hook to cut the grass, my efforts didn't go unnoticed, and we were offered a much better tool."

Since the first planting, the Millennium Orchard has become a quiet spot in which to find peace of mind, rest on the benches provided by local people and enjoy the fruits of the labours of the people of Tenbury Wells.

But be warned - at harvest time, please don't pick more than you can eat on the day.