Published on 12:19 AM, October 01, 2013

250 varieties of apple on one tree

250 varieties  of apple on one treeFrom Granny Smith and Golden Delicious to Brownlees Russet and Wadhurst Pippin, if you like apple then Paul Barnett is your man.
He has 250 varieties available to pick -- and astonishingly, they're all growing on just one tree.
The horticulturist has spent 24 years meticulously developing the tree in his back garden at Chidham in West Sussex of the UK, grafting on new varieties every winter.
The tree's fruits now include rare cooking apples such as the Withington Fillbasket, which originated in 1883, and Eady's Magnum, from 1908, as well as more recognisable favourites.
Barnett, 40, said on Saturday: "I started working at a nursery with acres of land and around 90 varieties of apple trees in rows.
"I wanted to grow my own trees but I didn't have the area to plant that number so I started a 'family tree' where I can have all the different varieties in a smaller amount of space. I add to it each year by budding in the summer and grafting in the winter."
Over time the buds and branches grow to become part of the main tree and eventually produce even more varieties of apple.
Barnett added: "The tree has cooking, eating and cider apples on it but I normally only get a few of each variety of apple each year. It's great to see all the different colours and sized apples on the tree this time of year."
He has had to prop up some of the branches with planks because of the sheer weight of the fruit growing on the tree, which stands some 20ft high.
Barnett also has nine smaller family trees growing plums, pears, cherries and apples.