Westhoek (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The “Fruity Heritage” project in Westhoek, led by POMKO and Regional Landscape Westhoek, aims to preserve old fruit trees, reintroduce historic varieties, and celebrate the region’s fruit-growing history.
In the Westhoek region of Belgium, many old fruit trees are over 100 years old. They are mostly found on old farms and castles. Officials mentioned that even though they don’t produce much fruit anymore, they are still valuable. Dieter Dewitte, who works for POMKO, a group that helps save old fruit trees, says these trees are like living reminders of the past.
POMKO is working with the Regional Landscape Westhoek to ask people in the area to tell them about any old fruit trees they see. They want to keep track of these trees and make sure they are protected for the future.
“We want to go out and inventory those trees and also determine the fruit variety, and then reintroduce those old fruit varieties in new orchards,” says Dewitte. “That way, the historical DNA of the region is preserved for the next 100 years.”
How is Westhoek saving its 100-year-old fruit trees and traditions?
POMKO uses a special method called grafting to help these old fruit trees. In winter, they take small branches from the trees. These branches have all the same genetic information as the original tree, even if it doesn’t make fruit anymore. This lets them grow new trees from the old ones.
So, even though the old trees might not produce fruit, they can still be used to create new trees with the same special type of fruit. POMKO and the Regional Landscape Westhoek are working together to make sure these unique fruit trees, which have been in the area for over 100 years, continue to exist.
The project to save the old fruit trees in the Westhoek region is about more than just finding the trees. Jurgen Valerberghe, who helps lead the Regional Landscape Westhoek, says they want to learn about the whole history of fruit growing in the area. This includes looking at old photos of fruit orchards that people might have in their family albums. They also want to find recipes that families have been using for generations that use fruit from the area.
Jurgen Valerberghe says, “Not only will historical research be started, but there will also be picking or orchard festivals and blossom routes. And there will be a Westhoek baking box.”
According to officials, the “Fruity Heritage” project is going to do more to help people understand the special fruit trees of the Westhoek region. This fall, towns like Diksmuide, Houthulst, Ieper, Kortemark, and Vleteren will have special “fruit hubs”. They mentioned that if people want to tell the project about old fruit trees or help out, they can email them at info@rlwesthoek.be.
