The Hartpury Heritage Trust in Gloucestershire has won CAMRA’s Pomona Award for playing a vital role in preserving the UK’s perry heritage.  

Named after the Roman goddess of apples, the Pomona Award recognises people and groups that have made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of real cider or perry, a key campaigning aim for CAMRA. 

Celebrated for its work in preventing the extinction of a wide variety of perry pears, the Hartpury Heritage Trust’s nomination impressed judges. 

Since 2006, it has planted and maintained the Hartpury Orchard Centre (pictured), becoming a home to the National Collection of Perry Pears, and a collection of Gloucestershire apples, plums and cherries. It now boasts more than 100 varieties of perry pear trees in 30 acres of orchards and wetlands. 

The trust will be presented with its award on 27 September from 10:30am at the Malvern Autumn Show. 

The trust’s Jim Chapman said: “It was a total surprise and great honour to hear that Hartpury Orchard Centre had been chosen by CAMRA to receive the Pomona Award this year. 

“I have always felt a close affinity for perry since I enjoyed my first glass in the 1960s, so was delighted when I was asked to take over the National Collection at Malvern. Then, having inherited land in Hartpury, I established a second national collection, now grown to more than 100 varieties, and the purpose-built orchard centre. Today, the centre is looked after by the village charity, Hartpury Heritage Trust.  

“While preserving the heritage varieties and making perry, the centre also runs courses and events, including an annual perry pear day and wassail. The public is welcome at any time to walk the orchards, grazed by the rare Gloucester cattle, and enjoy the wildlife in the adjacent conservation wetland.” 

CAMRA’s Pomona Award coordinator Andrea Briers said: “In an age where orchards are being torn down, and global commercial cider producers dominate the market, the importance of the work done by the Hartpury Heritage Trust can’t be understated.  

“Future generations can enjoy perry made from pears that have been saved from the brink by the trust, and I cannot think a more worthy winner of this prestigious CAMRA award. Everyone should walk through its wonderful orchards and appreciate just how beautiful these spaces are and how important they are for biodiversity, making warm and welcoming habitats to a whole array of wildlife.”