Starting in 2022 and continuing for three seasons, the Orchard Network and People's Trust for Endangered Species is coordinating a research project to identify the true identity of the native crab apple Malus sylvestris.

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Since the time of the Roman occupation, various genetic material from other species of apple, overwhelmingly the common eating apple Malus domestica, has been cross-pollinating with sylvestris to varying amounts. This project aims to use DNA to map hybridisation dispersal and ultimately establish if the original species still exists, and how to identify it in the field.

 

This project has been funded by the City Bridge Trust.