New Publication Charts Chiswick's Fruity Past
Tracks history of cultivation from orchards to today's community plantings
The Chiswick Fruit Timeline will be available at the Apple Day event
August 16, 2025
A new book exploring Chiswick’s horticultural heritage is set to launch on Saturday 6 September. The Chiswick Fruit Timeline: A History in Apples and Pears traces the area’s longstanding relationship with fruit cultivation, from 19th-century orchard innovations to contemporary community planting schemes.
The book will be formally introduced at Abundance London’s annual Apple Day, held at Chiswick Library from 11am to 3pm. The event is expected to feature appearances by the local MP and Mayor, alongside seasonal activities and information stalls.
Written by Karen Liebreich and designed by Starch Green Studio, the publication follows the 2018 release of The Chiswick Timeline: A History in Art and Maps, which documented the creation of the Timeline Mural at Turnham Green Terrace. That earlier volume has since become a sought-after item among local collectors.
Chiswick’s contribution to fruit history is notable. The area hosted early national conferences on fruit varieties and was the original site of the Chelsea Flower Show. Several apple and pear cultivars with global reach were first propagated here. Remnants of this legacy remain visible in mature trees across private gardens and public spaces, while recent orchard plantings at Chiswick House, Gunnersbury Park, and Dukes Meadows continue the tradition.
The book also touches on local debates surrounding fruit tree planting in public areas, where concerns over fallen fruit have occasionally sparked opposition.
Abundance London, the group behind the publication, has organised fruit-picking sessions and Apple Day events since 2010. Surplus produce is distributed to foodbanks, and the group also maintains 30 pocket gardens across the area. The book’s production was supported by contributions from local residents and businesses.
Copies of The Chiswick Fruit Timeline will be available at the Apple Day event for £10, with proceeds supporting Abundance London’s community work. Further distribution is planned through local bookshops and the organisation’s website.
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