Apples grown in the historic Walled Garden at Lydiard Park have been given a new lease of life, with three handmade preserves now being produced using fruit harvested from the Swindon landmark.
The new range has been created through a partnership between Lydiard Park and award-winning Wiltshire producer Dauntsey Preserves, giving visitors the chance to take home something a little different from one of the town’s best-loved attractions.
The apples come from Lydiard Park’s Georgian Walled Garden, which dates back to before 1743 and is home to more than 25 varieties of heritage apple tree.
Rather than letting this year’s harvest go to waste, the fruit has been put to good use in three specially developed products, each made using traditional methods.
Three New Products Made from Lydiard’s Apples
The new collection includes Heritage Apple Chutney, Heritage Apple & Ginger Preserve and Heritage Apple & Orange Marmalade.
Following the park’s Apple Day celebrations in September, apples were collected from the garden and transported to Dauntsey Preserves’ kitchen in rural Wiltshire.
There, the fruit was prepared by hand before being cooked in small batches using traditional open-pan methods.
The result is a collection of preserves that allows visitors to enjoy produce from Lydiard Park throughout the year, rather than just during the autumn harvest.
It also means that apples grown within the historic garden are being used locally, supporting a Wiltshire business while making use of the park’s seasonal produce.
A Garden with More Than 280 Years of History
Lydiard Park’s Walled Garden has been part of the estate for centuries, with its origins dating back to at least the early 18th century.
Today, it continues to grow a remarkable collection of heritage apples, including varieties that many people are unlikely to find on supermarket shelves.
Among those growing in the garden are Golden Knob, Cats Head, Api Noir and Colonel Vaughan.
Other varieties include Ribston Pippin, Devonshire Quarrenden, Golden Harvey and Blenheim Orange.
The garden’s collection offers visitors a glimpse into the types of fruit once grown on historic estates, long before modern commercial apple varieties became commonplace.
By turning part of the harvest into preserves, the new partnership offers another way of sharing that history with visitors.
A Taste of Lydiard Park to Take Home
Councillor Jake Chandler, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategy, Resilience and Green Infrastructure, welcomed the collaboration.
He said: “This collaboration with Dauntsey Preserves gives us a great opportunity to create something special from the harvest while celebrating the history and heritage of our 18th-century Walled Garden.”
He added that visitors would now have the opportunity to enjoy a taste of Lydiard Park throughout the year.
The project also gives the historic garden’s produce a purpose beyond the traditional harvesting season, with the finished products reflecting both the park’s history and the work of a local food producer.
Supporting a Wiltshire Business
Dauntsey Preserves is known for producing handmade preserves using locally sourced ingredients and traditional cooking techniques.
Founder Claire Mellor-Hill said the partnership was a natural fit for the business.
“Local ingredients, heritage, quality and provenance are at the heart of Dauntsey Preserves, so this collaboration ticks every box,” she said.
The business has worked with this year’s apple harvest to create products specifically for Lydiard Park, bringing together local food production and one of Swindon’s historic attractions.
Where Can the New Preserves Be Bought?
The three new products are set to go on sale at Lydiard Park, giving visitors the opportunity to pick up a jar during their next trip.
They will also be available online through Dauntsey Preserves, at selected stockists and at events attended by the producer.
For anyone looking for a locally made gift, or simply something different for the breakfast table, the collection offers a chance to enjoy apples grown right here in Swindon.
And with the Walled Garden continuing to produce its annual harvest, the collaboration provides an interesting new chapter in the history of one of the town’s most recognisable green spaces.
Further information: Lydiard Park | Swindon Borough Council
