In January 2008, the Trust commenced the restoration of the North Coast’s Downhill orchard by planting over ten different varieties of apple trees in the walled garden.

Historically this area would have been a market garden producing fruit and vegetables. Many of these indigenous varieties of apple would have grown in Ireland during the 1800 and 1900s. The Trees will grow over the next five years and we expect some of the trees to start producing apples in two years time (2010).

The project, which will take a number of years to mature, has been identified by the Trust as an important part of our conservation work. The newly planted trees will help to maintain old Irish varieties of apple and the overall genetic diversity of apple trees in Ireland, which may be of use for future apple tree research, production and planting.

The restoration project was delivered by the National Trust with financial support from the Ulster Wildlife Trust through Coleraine Borough Council’s Landfill Communities Fund and one of our valued supporters, Mr Eric James.