Michael’s Hitchin Pippin, Tewin Orchard

Created for Botanical Art Worldwide 2025, this watercolour painting documents the life cycle of the Hitchin Pippin, a heritage apple once thought to be extinct. This historically significant dessert apple was first recorded in Hitchin, Hertfordshire in 1896, but by the mid-20th century it had all but vanished.

The variety was rescued from the brink of extinction by Michael Clark, voluntary warden of Tewin Orchard. Following a public appeal, Michael discovered the last known tree — over 100 years old — growing in a back garden in Kent. Through grafting, he successfully reintroduced the Hitchin Pippin to Hertfordshire, where it still thrives today.

In 2024, I visited the first propagated tree at Tewin Orchard across multiple seasons to study it in detail. My observations included the first buds appearing in March, pale pink blossom softening to white in April, and the fully ripened fruit in August.

The Hitchin Pippin is characterised by its pink-red stripes on a yellow background. It is a medium-sized, smooth apple with a distinctive raised crown — often described as having a ‘volcanic rim’. The stalk may have fleshy bumps and the calyx tube is funnel- or cone-shaped. These details were captured through close observation and rendered in watercolour to reflect both botanical accuracy and the visual beauty of the variety.

This work is exhibited as part of Looking Back for Our Future at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Gallery, the England and Wales contribution to Botanical Art Worldwide 2025. The global exhibition includes simultaneous displays from 34 countries, all focusing on the theme of Crop Diversity — highlighting the cultural, ecological, and agricultural importance of edible plants.