PERRY pears will be one of the stars at this year’s Malvern Autumn Show with a display aiming to smash a world record.
Jim Chapman, who runs the National Perry Pear Centre in Hartpury, will be attempting to exceed the current record of 87 varieties with his display in the Orchard Pavilion at the Three Counties Showground on Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, September 30.
As well as his world record bid, Mr Chapman will be sharing his years of expertise with visitors.
He will be available to answer questions, help identify pears the public bring in and will be showcasing a new mobile phone app which colleagues are currently developing to help manage heritage collections.
Perry and its production are synonymous with the rich orchard heritage of the counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
The National Perry Pear Collection was originally established at the historic Three Counties Showground in the 1990s with 164 trees of 74 varieties of Perry pear.
Over the years the showground has continued to play a vital and active role in the protection and preservation of this collection, which has now expanded to a further two sites nearby, and so it is entirely fitting this world record attempt is taking place at the Malvern Autumn Show.
Charles Martell, the High Sheriff of Gloucestershire and author of Pears of Gloucestershire and Perry Pears of the Three Counties, recognised the precarious position of Perry pears and took steps to prevent the loss of such a significant part of the region’s history.
He was influential in establishing the national collection at the showground, and spent months travelling farms and hedgerows across the three counties identifying ancient pear trees and taking grafts to preserve these unique and endangered varieties on the showground.
“Our Perry pears need preserving and nurturing as they are an important part of our cultural heritage,” he said.
“Due to their unique and rare qualities they enable smaller farmers and growers to derive a living from the land by producing a product exclusive to this area.”
With a now flourishing National Collection occupying three separate sites, the world record attempt at the Malvern Autumn Show, is a celebration of this extensive preservation work.
Visit www.malvernautumn.co.uk or call 0844 811 0050 for more.
