We're delighted to be able to include some of the apple descriptions from 'The Northern Pomona' - a reference work on growing apples in northern climates first published in 2007. It was a labour of love for all those involved, including fruit descriptions, botanical illustrations, recipes and detailed cultural advice on all aspects of growing apple trees from some of the foremost experts in the field. Now sadly out of print, we are extremely grateful to Lin Hawthorne for allowing us to use the wonderful descriptions she wrote for the book. They add invaluable cultural, historical and practical insights, which bring each fruit to life.
Lin was the Editor-in-Chief for The Northern Pomona: Apples for Cool Climates, (Pomona Publications, 2007). The book was inspired, in part, by the collection of heritage apples at Helmsley Walled Garden, where Lin was on the board of trustees that secured the Heritage Lottery award of 2002, to restore the vinery and orchid house. Its publication was the culmination of four years voluntary labour on behalf of the contributors, Peter Blackburn-Maze, Dr Elke Laver, the late Barry Potter, and, of course, the brilliant botanical illustrator, Bridget Gillespie, whose work truly brought the book to life. It was made possible by the legions of patrons, sponsors and subscribers, who not only financed the printing of the book, but also gathered apples from their orchards all over Yorkshire, for Bridget to paint. Our aim was to generate funds for Helmsley Walled Garden to secure the conservation of their heritage apples.
Lin has contributed to a number of horticultural publications: The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening, as principal author for cultivation; The RHS A‑Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, as contributing editor, as well as about thirty other practical manuals/reference works, mainly for the RHS in collaboration with Dorling Kindersley. Between 2001–2006, she wrote a monthly column, Last Words, for the RHS Journal, The Garden,and her book Gardening with Shape, Line and Texture, for Timber Press in 2009, was shortlisted for Reference Book of the Year 2010, by the Garden Media Guild.
Formerly honorary Education Officer for the Castle Howard Arboretum Trust (now the Yorkshire Arboretum) and sole guide-lecturer for twelve years for Dr. James Russell’s outstanding plant collections at Castle Howard, Head Gardener for a large rural estate on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds, and latterly, project manager and designer of the Three Hagges Wood Meadow.
She is currently exploring invertebrate associations with our native trees and shrubs, colours in nature, and indulging in a fascination with botanical Latin. See https://naturallatin.com/home/