The Big Apple Association of Marcle Ridge has received a grant of £2,475 from the National Lottery Awards for All programme, to help revive traditional orchard skills in the area.

The aim is to ensure that planting, pruning and grafting, do not become skills of the past.

Big Apple secretary Jackie Denman said: "There are many old orchards in the area and acres of cider fruit have been planted that add to the traditional pattern of fruit growing.

"The association has put together a training programme and established that someone with the right skills could offer an important service to orchard owners. We have been convinced of this need for a long time.

"Now we know we can fund the training with the support of the Lottery, we want to make sure that we find the right person for the opportunity. We'd like to make sure local orchards get the best start for the new Millennium."

The Big Apple Association is perhaps best known for its annual weekend celebration of apples, orchards and cider culture, every autumn. This was held last month and included apple and cider-themed dishes in local hostelries as well as cycle rides and walk around the Marcle Ridge apple country and visits to local orchards and centres of cider making.