The Heritage Fruit Tree Register is being launched at the next Bega Markets on Friday 19th March.

The Bega Valley Seed Savers are joining forces with the Sapphire Coast Producers Association to create a register of heritage fruit varieties in the area.

Our region has a long history of productive gardens so there are many old fruit varieties growing in gardens and on farms that can no longer be purchased from nurseries.  The Seed Savers group would like to help save these old varieties by creating a register of trees that can be used for grafting material.

People with trees that they are willing to allow cuttings for grafting to be taken during winter are encouraged to add their tree to the register.

Old productive trees of unnamed varieties - perhaps chance seedlings - are also of interest as they are proven performers in our climate and soils.  These trees may in the future form the basis for new varieties.

As well as people with old trees, people interested in propagating the heritage varieties are also being sought.

Are you unsure what the old variety is that you have in your garden? Come along to the Bega Markets, between 9am and 12pm, and talk to a group of knowledgeable orchardists and gardeners.  If at all possible, please bring a sample of the fruit and a photo of the tree.

If you are able to help with the identification of local trees you are warmly invited to join in the fun.  There are thousands and thousands of old varieties of fruits and they can be difficult to identify so the more knowledge the better the chance someone will know the tree.  Any old catalogues or other material that can be made available to help with identifications would be very welcome.

Later in the year the Seed Savers are planning to hold a tree grafting workshop.  Grafting is most easily done in late winter or early spring, but please get in contact soon if you are interested in learning to graft your own fruit trees.

More information is available from the Bega Valley Seed Savers, bvss-info@thebegavalley.com.au or call Liz on 6492 0923 or Anneke on 6492 0992.

For a list of community gardens in the South East with Contacts click HERE.

This list will be updated as new information comes to hand.