THE discovery of an early twentieth century collection of photographs, gathering dust on the shelves of a Herefordshire library, has led excited conservationists to the whereabouts of three ancient - and previously lost - varieties of perry pear trees.

Explorer Herbert Durham's photographic survey of pears, compiled in 1926 while he was an employee at Bulmers, was unearthed a few weeks ago by Gloucestershire farmer and perry producer, Charles Martell, at The Woolhope Club's library in Hereford.

Now, thanks to Durham's accurate records, Hellens Green, Water Lugg and Stony Ways have all been scientifically identified and saved from certain extinction! The existence of a fourth surviving variety, Fords Green Huffcap, is currently being investigated.

Mr Martell heads up a team of dedicated farmers, nurserymen and fruit growers, attempting to halt the demise of perry drinking in the three counties, and describes the latest finds as 'like striking gold'.

The group is 10 years into a unique conservation project, which has tracked down, propagated and subsequently revived 79 varieties of the fruit, and the rescued trees have been planted at the Three Counties Agricultural Society's Showground in Malvern - now home to the National Collection of Perry Pear Trees.

Said Charles: "Herbert Durham was a Cambridge graduate who became an explorer.He went on many expeditions, and during one such trip up the Amazon, lost an eye and a friend. He returned to Britain, where a university friend, from the Bulmer family, offered him a job, researching perry pear varieties. He completed his survey, and donated the historic tome, containing meticulous records, to The Woolhope Club.

"So far, his work has proved an invaluable guide in our search for missing strains of the perry pear - some of which are represented by just one old tree."

Hellens Green and Water Lugg have both been located in an avenue of trees planted around 1710 at Hellens, Much Marcle.

According to Charles, nobody alive had ever heard of the latter, although he suspects it may have been named after the River Lugg!

Found in Brinsop

A book by Robert Hogg in 1886 had already taken the group to the original Colwall, Malvern, location of the third variety, Stony Way, some years ago but they had never found it.

Thanks to Durham's photographic records, indicating the existence of a specimen at Brinsop in Hereford, Charles has now tracked it down to the very spot, where according to folklore, St George was said to have slain the dragon!

For the past two years, visitors to the Three Counties Agricultural Society's annual Malvern Autumn Garden and Country Show (September 29-30), have been able to hear the perry pear story, discover where to purchase trees, and taste the end product of traditional perry making.

This year, the society is celebrating more than 400 years of perry production and showgoers will see perry being used in a modern mouth-watering dish at the event's BBC Hereford and Worcester Cookery Theatre.

It is also inviting visitors to bring along a recipe - old or new - that uses perry as an ingredient, with a view to publishing a recipe book or leaflet at a later date.