The future of a rare apple tree at a Ceredigion landmark has been secured through conservation efforts.

The tree, part of the Llanerchaeron estate, is one of only six locations where the Llanerchaeron Peach apple variety is known to exist.

National Trust Cymru, caretakers of the estate, have safeguarded the tree's future by grafting new trees from the original.

Around 25 new Llanerchaeron Peach apple trees were successfully grafted in the first batch.

The apple variety, named Llanerchaeron Peach due to its resemblance to the fruit's shape and colour, was given its name in 2022 by members of the Marcher Apple Network as its original name has been lost to history.

The new trees have found homes across Ceredigion and beyond, with a couple planted at the Llanerchaeron estate.

The rest were made available for purchase at last month's Apple Weekend to fund ongoing conservation efforts in the garden.

Alex Summers, head gardener for National Trust Cymru in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, said: "We wanted to share this rare apple with the local community to ensure the future of this special tree.

"Knowing that trees grafted from the collection of heritage apples that we care for are now distributed in the local community is really important for the future of this collection."

One of the rare apple trees was gifted to Penyrheol Comprehensive School in Swansea, where it was planted alongside other apple varieties in a new garden area.

Karen Jones, Penyrheol Comprehensive School's assistant headteacher, said: "We are delighted with the opportunity and learning that was provided by the National Trust when they visited our school.

"Our pupils have benefited enormously from the tree planting, and we look forward to watching them grow."

National Trust Cymru will continue to graft trees from the heritage orchard collection at Llanerchaeron as part of efforts to preserve Wales’ apple heritage.

The garden team at Llanerchaeron currently cares for 52 varieties of heritage apple trees.

These include grand espaliers like the Bramley, and other favourites like Egremont Russet, Ashmead’s Kernel, and the famous Welsh Bardsey apple.

The Llanerchaeron Georgian villa, surrounded by a traditional Welsh working estate and a walled garden, has been producing fruit and vegetable trees for over 200 years.

The estate, cared for by National Trust Cymru, is open to visitors from Wednesday to Sunday until November 3, and weekends only during November and December.

National Trust Cymru is inviting the public to explore the traditional orchards at gardens and estates across Wales on National Apple Day, on October 21.

A list of the top orchards to visit in Wales can be found online at the National Trust website.

Visitors can plan a visit to the Llanerchaeron estate through the National Trust's website.