Famous shipwreck at core of school’s’ apple orchard

From Wales Online: Famous shipwreck at core of school’s’ apple orchard
THE story of an apple variety that arrived in Wales when a ship was wrecked off the coast nearly 200 years ago is set to be preserved at a Pontypridd primary school.

Pupils at Coedpenmaen Primary planted a Diamond apple tree alongside seven other rare Welsh varieties with the help of celebrity allotment holder Terry Walton.

The Diamond is named after a three-masted Atlantic cargo ship that hit the Sarn Padrig reef in Cardigan Bay on route to Liverpool from New York on January 2, 1825.

Its cargo of premium apples washed ashore and the resulting seedlings eventually gave rise to the famous Diamond Orchard of Dyffryn Ardudwy.

With the help of willing young volunteers, green-fingered Radio 2 gardener Terry ensured that the story will live on in Coedpenmaen Primary.

The school’s new orchard, planed as part of Pontypridd Friends of the Earth’s Little Welsh Nibble festival, includes nine other trees of seven different varieties.

The orchard features Welsh varieties such as Bardsey Island, Channel Beauty, Diamond and St Cecilia.

The Bardsey Island variety has been produced using seeds from the last remaining tree found on the island in 1998.

As St Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians, harpist and singer Bethan Nia came along to play and bless the tree planting.

Each class at the Pontypridd school researched their variety of apple and created special apple hats to wear on the day.

Others were able to have a go at making their own apple chutney and were given pruning and beekeeping advice.

Tips on apple pressing, apple tree planting and delicious apple recipes were also shared by parents, pupils and visitors.

The Rural Regeneration Unit donated the trees to raise awareness of food co-operatives in Rhondda Cynon Taf. They hope more will be opened in future.

More information on The Little Welsh Nibble festival, which hopes to raise awareness of the environmental impact of the food we eat, can be found on Facebook.

Pontypridd Friends of the Earth meet at 7.30pm on the second Monday of the month at Clwb y Bont, Taff Street.

If you would like to find out more about Food Co-operatives, the Rural Regeneration Unit or Friends of the Earth, please contact Richard Reast on 01443 402317.