If you know of the existence of an Akar's seedling then one enthusiastic duo of apple growers would be keen to hear from you, writes PETER BARRINGTON

Two researchers of fruit trees are hoping that an Oxfordshire landowner or householder has a rare Oxford apple tree growing in an orchard or garden. Andy Howard and Marcus Roberts want to locate the dessertapple called Akar's seedling, which has oval-shaped fruit with a yellow colour and a dull scarlet blush to the peel.

"It was known about as relatively recently as the 1940s and is recorded in a reference book published in 1948, but has not been seen since. It was a popular apple in Oxfordshire," said Andy, who with Marcus runs the Heritage Fruit Tree Company, which specialises in finding rare and unusual apple trees in Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties.

Originally Andy and Marcus thought they might find the Akar's at the national fruit tree collection at Brogdale in Kent, but they drew a blank. If they can find an Akar's growing in Oxfordshire they will bring it back into general use by taking grafts and selling the resulting trees to interested land and home owners.

An Akar's tree could still be growing almost anywhere if their experience with the recent discovery of the Deddington Pippin is anything to go by.

When Andy was driving through the village last auctumn he suddenly realised that an apple tree in a roadside verge and loaded with fruit was a variety had had not seen before.

"I must have driven past it many times before but for some reason it caught my eye this time. Perhaps it was because some of the leaves had fallen and the apples were more easily seen on one side of the tree," said Andy.

After picking a few apples he was able to check with reference books and found it was the Deddington Pippin.

Andy and Marcus are fairly confident the Akar's will be still around as a century ago Oxfordshire and Warwickshire were noted areas of apple production. In 1909 there were 1,533 acres of apples in Oxfordshire and 1,752 acres in Warwickshire.

In addition to the Deddington Pippin they have found in Oxfordshire the North Aston Supreme, trhe Eynsham Dumpling and the Bampton Fairing.

One of the more generally known ancient apples was the Blenheim Orange, which was raised around 1740 by George Kempster, a tailor, who grew it in his garden in Old Woodstock, within a few yards of the walls of Blenheim Park. Apparently, people travelled miles to admire its orange-coloured apples.

The North Aston Non Pareil is another variety they have obtained. This apple was cultivated by a Col. Vernon, who helped the village become famed for its orchards in the 16th century. Other apples native to Oxfordshire are the Aynho Junction Pippin, the Hanwell Souring and several that must owe their existence to the city - the Oxford Beauty, Oxford Conquest, Oxford Hoard and Oxford Yeoman.

Marcus explained that apples have been important to people's lives since medieval times.

"Apples were one of the few sources of vitamins in diets and apples grown for cider-making were particularly valued. Cider was seen as better than wine or ale for drinking, that is until wine became more readily avaiulable," said Marcus.

Andy and Marcus see their mission is to rescue from oscurity apples of the region and to sell them to householders.

"We would like to think that everyone would have at least one apple tree in their garden. As we realise many people have small gardens these days we have begun specialising in dwarf varieties so that an apple tree does not dominate a modest plot," said Andy.

Apples growing on a tree in a garden have the advantage of providing fresh, tasty fruit on hand without householders having to build up food miles by driving to the local supermarket.

To this end they have launched the Mid-Shires Orchard Group with the aim of promoting the recovery of ancient apple varieties and to educate people into the skills of pruning and grafting.

They also support the creation of community orchards, such as the one in Wolvercote. One project they have undertaken is with the National Trust at Stowe Landscape Gardens at Stowe School, between Buckingham and Silverstone.

Andy said: "We will haved what we call our home orchard there and hold regular training and other events for the public. We are also working with the estate to conserve their historic orchard and trees in a five-year plan to improve and conserve existing trees and create a new reserve orchard."

Andy and Marcus would also like to find land on which they could propagate re-discovered apples, perhaps even the Akar's dessert.

Andy and Marcus and the Heritage Fruit Tree Compnay can be contacted on 01295 810516.