National fruit collection to remain at Brogdale‏

Defra announced today that the National Fruit Collection will remain atBrogdale Farm for the foreseeable future.

The maintenance of the site, which includes collections of apples, pears,plums, cherries and other fruit, went to tender in September when Defraissued an open competition specification to manage the National FruitCollections. The work included scientific curation and horticulturalmanagement of this important genetic resource. The specification includedthe option of moving the collections to a new site, with the intention ofensuring Defra was getting the best value for money for this work.

Today's decision will be subject to agreement with the landlord to extendthe lease at Brogdale and it is also intended that the University ofReading will take over the maintenance and curation of the collections fromApril 2008.

Jeff Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Farming and Food said:

"The long term security of the collections has always been our main prioritytherefore we welcome the decision for the National Fruit Collection toremain at Brogdale. Local support stressing the importance of retaining thecollections at Brogdale as been continuous since the start of the tenderingprocess and we are delighted with the final outcome and to be workingalongside Reading as the new curators. I would also like to take thisopportunity to thank Brogdale Horticultural Trust and Imperial College fortheir support over the years in managing and curating the collections."