Rare forgotten fruit trees discovered in town

Three rare fruit trees, which were incredibly popular in medieval times, have been discovered in an overgrown nature reserve.

The horticultural team at Middlesbrough Environment City (MEC) uncovered the medlar trees while working on the former Nature's World site in Acklam.

Medlar trees were traditionally grown in orchards and peaked in popularity in the 1600s, until vanishing from the public consciousness in the 1950s.

Horticulturalist project leader, Matt Wilson, said he had not heard of the trees before he started working at the site and he was learning as much as he could in the hopes of taking cuttings and spreading awareness of the hardy species.

The former Nature's World site is very overgrown in parts and the MEC team are trying to bring it fully back into use.

Wilson said: "We have found three [medlar trees] on site and are discovering new things all the time.

"It is a tree that has been used for hundreds of years all the way back to medieval Europe."

Medlar trees were popular for centuries due to fruiting in the later stages of autumn, providing families with fresh fruit late in the year.

The produce can be eaten after a process called bletting, which allows the fruit to partially rot so it softens and develops a sweet, rich flavour.

Wilson said when he tried the produce it tasted like "dates or spiced pear".

The team at Middlesbrough Environment City see the discovery as an opportunity to introduce people to a unique and forgotten species.

"We are trying to provide more evidence that you can grow more food like this in your garden and anyone can do it," Wilson said.

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