Just over three years ago in early September 2000 a birdwatcher staying at Cristin was using apples to lure birds. A chance conversation between the birdwatcher and another visitor to the island Mr Ian Sturrock led to a most exciting discovery. Mr Sturrock, an expert on trees who rejuvenates fruit trees for a living was told that the apples had been collected from a tree on the island.

On investigating this further Mr Sturrock discovered that the apple was growing on a gnarled and twisted tree on the south facing gable end of Plas Bach and had apparently survived (if not quite thrived) there for many a long year. Although his enquiries amongst the island residents suggested that these apples had been enjoyed by generations of islanders no one knew what kind of apples they were save that the pink, lemon - scented fruit with its juicy and refreshing taste were possibly the only survivors from an orchard tended on the site by monks over a 1,000 years ago.

Mr Sturrock was puzzled by the apple and realised that it was unusual. "I didn't recognise it, so I took it to the experts on British apple varieties, which is Brogdale Horticultural Trust in Kent" said Mr Sturrock.

There the apples were examined by Dr Joan Morgan, one of Britain's leading apple experts, who thought she had tasted every one of several thousand varieties grown in Britain - until then."We could not put a name to it, but who would wish it to be anything other than the Bardsey apple?" she said. Dr Morgan declared it the world's rarest apple, describing the apple as boldly striped in pink over cream, ribbed and crowned.

The Trust decided to ask Mr Sturrock to take cuttings from the tree the following spring so that they could grow more of this unique tree. They now have 175 healthy new trees, which have been grown on from the original Bardsey tree for sale. In years to come the Trust may be able to produce more trees for commercial sale but at the moment they have only enough to supply a very limited demand. There has been a disappointing number of orders so the Trust has decided to re-open this offer to Trust members and non-members with no restriction on the numbers ordered. To visit the Bardesy Island web site click here www.bardsey.org.

Should you wish to purchase the Enlli apple tree please order by filling in the order form below. The Trust cannot promise to meet the demand and will only supply on a first come first served basis. Trees are currently between 4ft and 5ft (whips) and will be either semi dwarf variety (M26) for the smaller garden or the more vigorously growing standard variety (M25) for the bigger garden. Trees costs £15 each. However, due to the high labour, packaging and delivery costs the delivery charge will be £13.95 for the first tree and £6.00 for every extra tree, so it may be a good idea to pick your tree up yourself. The trees are now available at Glynllifon, near Caernarfon. If you want to collect your tree/s please contact Dick Loxton (one of the island's trustees and an ex-Bardsey resident - see below) and leave your telephone number to arrange a collection date and time. They are now offering to deliver WITHIN Gwynedd and Anglesey for £5. Trees will be available until end of March 2003 but will not be delivered during exceptionally cold weather.

I /We, Name and address WITH POSTCODE and telephone number (please print) ..................................................................................

wish to purchase......tree/s @ £15 each total£....

I/We enclose £13.95 p/p for first tree and £6 p/p for each extra tree total £.....

I / We enclose £5 for delivery within GWYNEDD and ANGLESEY I We enclose a cheque made payable to Afal Enlli for Total £.....

To order your tree/s and or arrange either pick up or delivery please contact Dick Loxton, 12 Tan y Bwlch, Mynydd Llandegai, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 4DX, 01248 605140 - email dicklock@aol.com