"I believe the Brogdale http://www.brogdale.org/ collection of apple genotypes has already been much reduced by funding cuts and is under further threat as a result of con-dem insanity."

Given the changes that have taken place over the past couple of years or so at Brogdale, e.g. the commercialisation of the main visitors' area, I suspect that you're right, Richard. Last year I paid £7 to enter the cherry festival so that I could... buy cherries! The entrance fee at last weekend's apple festival was £8. I bought the apples I wanted in the outside area and decided not to pay £8 in order to then buy £6 worth of apples! My "capitalisation" on the public purse may well be more modest than you'd imagined! :)