Denbigh plum's future assured

Resident Peter Jones has a Denbigh plum tree in his garden

The future of Wales' only variety of plum is being assured thanks to people in the town from which it gets its name.

An audit of so-called Denbigh plum trees is being undertaken, meanwhile trees are being planted at locations around the town, including local schools, so future generations will be able to enjoy its fruits.

What makes this plum different to others is that it's large and round, dark purple-red in colour and is characteristically strewn with golden dots, says fruit grower Ian Sturrock, the only person to grow Denbigh plum trees commercially.

Earliest records of date the Denbigh plum to the 1780s.

Denbigh business representative Sue Muse, who runs the Glass Onion cafe near the Town Hall, helped to organise the first Denbigh Plum Festival in October 2009 in which special cakes, bread, drinks and jams were on sale along with other local produce.

No commercial orchards growing the plum remain but the trees are to be found in various gardens around the town.

The newly-formed Denbigh Plum Group is asking for people with the tree in their garden to come forward so they can be logged.

One proud owner is Peter Jones. His home has been in the same family since the 1930s and a plum tree has been growing in the garden for as long as anyone can remember.

"Family legend has it that the plum tree in the garden is one of the original Denbigh plum trees," he says.

"Most years we get masses of plums from it. They taste totally different to other plums, much sweeter, and they're round rather than egg shaped."