WE British rightly pride ourselves on our love of history and heritage. Our patronage of the National Trust knows no bounds and no sooner has someone of note died than we slap a blue plaque on their home and flock to visit.

By comparison our horticultural heritage is often sadly neglected, although this may be set to change thanks to an inspirational and fascinating book by Portland author Christopher Stocks.

Forgotten Fruits tells the stories behind Britain’s traditional fruit and veg. It is crammed with fascinating facts, interesting people dedicated to the propagation of food and delightfully quirky names – Dan’s Mistake gooseberry, the Warwickshire Drooper yellow cooking plum and Tender and True parsnip.

Last year, Forgotten Fruits was published to wide acclaim. It was nominated for the prestigious Andre Simon Book Awards and was praised to the skies by the likes of Monty Don – who named it his book of the year – Anna Pavord and book reviewers in all the national broadsheet newspapers.

Next week he will launch its paperback publication with an evening talk at Waterstones in Dorchester.

Chris said: “It was a fascinating book to research but was also very sad.

“For example, the house belonging to Richard Cox, who gave us Cox’s Orange Pippin apples – has been knocked down and is now a block of flats and a carpark. His grave is under a yew tree and covered in pigeon poo.

“If he had been someone like Wordsworth, the place would have been snapped up by the National Trust and people would flock to see it. But Mr Cox has been all but forgotten, even though more people have probably eaten a Cox’s Orange Pippin than have read anything by Wordsworth.”

As well as being a dip-into compendium of gloriously named foodstuffs and associated anecdotes, Forgotten Fruits offers a wonderful slice of social history.

Chris Stocks will be talking about Forgotten Fruits at 6.30pm on Thursday, May 7 at Waterstone’s in South Street, Dorchester.

Tickets are £1 and redeemable against the price of the book Includes glass of wine. To purchase tickets, ask a member of staff in store or call 01305 257123.

n Readers can order Forgotten Fruits (RRP £8.99) for the special price of £7.99 incl free UK p&p. To order please call 01206 255 800 and quote the ref ‘Echo’.