Gwent Wildlife Trust is giving new life to rare Welsh orchard fruits at its new community reserve in Usk.

Springdale farm orchard is the second orchard developed by the trust's volunteers and over a number of year's hopes to revive the growth of many rare varieties of Welsh fruits such as Pig Yr Wydd, St Cecilia, and Machen apples and Monmouthshire Burgundy pears.

Alice Britt, the trust's orchard project officer said: "For centuries, Gwent was a vital area for Britain's cider and perry production, but we've lost the majority of our orchards in the last 60 years.

"Along with the orchards, many Welsh fruit varieties have practically died out. People lost interest. But times change and now, interest is blossoming."

Community orchards have seen a surge across Wales in recent times with many schools and communities planting community heritage orchards. Miss Britt added: "Orchards are particularly hot topics in schools at the moment, so many aspects of the curriculum are answered by planting and maintaining a school orchard - learning history, science, cooperation - and you don't need much space".

The leading orchard fruit - the apple - certainly revived its popularity in Monmouthshire last year with the highly successful return of Chepstow Apple Day.

Thousands of visitors flocked to the Drill Hall last November, to celebrate the well loved fruit through a host of different events and activities including old-fashioned cider pressing, apple-peeling games and a dessert-making contest.

The popularity of the apple amongst gardeners and apple enthusiasts was evident as the apple ID stand manned by Marcher expert, Mike Porter, proved to be one of the most visited stands on the day with people queuing to know more about the varieties of apples they found in and around their communities.