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If you shop in supermarkets, you'd be forgiven for thinking that apples come in only four or five varieties, and pretty bland ones at that. But a visit to Britain's National Fruit Collection at Brogdale would immediately dispel that notion. Brogdale boasts the world's largest collection of fruit trees across 61 hectares of fertile Kent countryside—over 2,300 varieties of apple, 550 of pear, 350 of plum and 220 of cherry, as well as more than 320 varieties of bush fruits, nuts and vines.

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All of Brogdale's fruits have different characteristics of shape, color, flavor, sweetness, fragrance and size. The apple collection, for example, ranges from the tiny Decio, brought to England by the Romans, to the very ugly Knobby Russet and the huge Howgate Wonder, just one of which could fill three apple pies. The plant center sells around 75 different apple trees, but if you can't find your favorite, Brogdale's experts will grow one especially for you. They can also recommend trees that will happily thrive in a pot on a balcony, provide an orchard design service tailored to soil or climate, or even suggest historically accurate trees for a period house. Visitors are welcome year-round and can take guided orchard tours ($7 per person) between March and November. tel: (44-1795) 535286; www.brogdale.org

• By Kate Noble
• A visit to the world's largest collection of fruit trees will whet your appetite