They are names that evoke sun- drenched orchards lost in the mists of time... Bloody Ploughman, Forty Shillings and Duck's Bill.

But apples such as these, long absent from our fruit bowls, could be making a comeback - thanks to Prince Charles.

He is at the forefront of an initiative to rescue hundreds of rare and cherished varieties from obscurity. A vast catalogue of apples, offering unique flavours and appearance, will be cultivated on new sites and some will return to commercial production.

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True connoisseur: Prince Charles samples a Cheshire apple

A cloud was cast over the future of these traditional varieties when the food and farming department, Defra, axed its support for the Brogdale Research Institute in Kent.

Control of the National Fruit Collection was taken away from the renowned institute, which has protected the heritage of Britain's fruit trees since 1952.

Management of the collection, based near Faversham in Kent, was transferred to a consortium headed by the University of Reading, creating fears for its future.

The Reading team has now sold three identical collections of 1,000 historic varieties.

They have gone to Prince Charles, who runs the Duchy organic food range, the Co-operative and a private Scottish collector.

Charles could create his own apple juice or start selling apples under his Duchy brand through supermarkets.

The Co-op's farming-business is planting the rare trees with the aim of pressing and blending the apples to create an own-brand heritage juice for sale in its stores. The third group of 1,000 trees is going to Lochnaw Castle, near Stranraer.

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The golden oldies making a comeback (click to expand)

The initiative has been welcomed by English Apples and Pears, the growing industry's trade association.

Its chief executive, Adrian Barlow, said: 'For centuries it has been recognised that the climate in England is ideally suited to the production of apples. This led to the raising of hundreds of varieties from the early 18th century onwards with a wide range of flavours.

'Many of these varieties have fallen out of favour, either because of their appearance, low productivity or because their taste does not suit the modern palate, but it is essential that they are preserved.'

The Co-op will plant new orchards of traditional varieties at its 800-acre fruit-growing operation at Tillington in Herefordshire. Head of the operation, William Barnett, said: 'It's a very exciting project, with a small first pressing planned for later this year.'

The farm at Faversham remains the home of the National Fruit Collection, even though the management has been moved to Reading.

The site, home to over 1,000 varieties of apple, is open to the public. Details are available from brogdalecollections.co.uk.