Why this beloved British apple tree is under threat

• A national campaign has been launched to secure the future of the original Bramley apple tree, over two centuries old, by purchasing the cottage it calls home in Southwell, Nottinghamshire.
• Planted by Mary Ann Brailsford between 1809 and 1815, this venerable tree is the progenitor of millions of Bramley saplings cultivated globally, making it a significant part of British culinary history.
• The Bramley Cottages, currently owned by Nottingham Trent University, are on the market, raising fears the historic site could be lost to private ownership.
• Artist Dan Llywelyn Hall, a co-founder of the campaign, aims to acquire the cottage to ensure public access, establish it as a heritage site, and prevent its loss, which he calls a “national embarrassment”.
• The campaign, also backed by musician Cerys Matthews, is seeking to crowdfund £250,000 for the purchase, emphasising the tree's importance as a natural wonder deserving of preservation.

IN FULL

Campaigners fight to save original Bramley apple tree cottage from private sale