Galloway Crab Apple Action

Experts increasingly admire the population of native crab apple trees in Galloway? But why are they here, and why does this matter?

Book your free ticket to join us in person in New Galloway or online!

Galloway has a well-kept secret: we have special native crab apple trees – hardy, long lived and much-loved scrubby pasture trees. They are found in rough pasture on hills, along the coast along riverbanks and sometimes in gardens. They bear beautiful pink blossom in spring, in autumn golden globes of fruit, locally known as ‘scroggies’ that sometimes hang on throughout the winter. Galloway, together with a couple of other areas in the UK, has an exceptionally high level of native genetic material in its Crab Apple stock – likely due to the remote nature of our current treestock and the reduced chance of cross pollination with other apple species.

However not all of our crab apple trees are true natives, some have been cross pollinated with domestic apples and ornamental varieties. This puts the survival of the true ‘native’ Crab Apples under threat.

The South West Scotland Community Woodlands Trust has been leading a project over recent years to identify and better understand our population of native crab apple trees, celebrating their significance through history to present day. The team have been on a mission to find Galloway’s true natives through DNA testing, use this to grow the next generation of native trees and seek to protect this important natural asset.

This event - delivered in hybrid so attendees are welcomed in person or online - will share an overview of the work done to better understand our native crab apples, giving a number of different reasons why we should be proud of the Galloway crab apple trees!

The event is delivered by Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, a new initiative seeking to support trees, habitats and the people that depend upon them in Dumfries & Galloway.

Photo courtesy P Norman