[teamspotty]

Having taken over an allotment last year we've got a variety of trees growing (pear, plums etc etc), but what really surprised us was an apple tree with THE nicest apples I have ever tasted (and I've tasted a fair few varieties). Identifying the type is obviously very difficult (as new varieties can be made by cross-pollinating etc) so I was going to send some samples off this year. It seems that RHS have stopped doing this service, but there is another http://www.brogdalecollections.co.uk/brogdale-identification.html. Has anybody used them or have a better suggestion?

[sunshineband]

I hadn't realised that the RHS had stopped offering this service -- shame 

Brogdale does seem a reasonable cost.

The other alternative would be to see if anyone at a local apple tasting day in the autumn would be able to help.

[Alastair-I]

You need to find a local apple day, over here we have the East Of England Apples and Orchards Project.  There may be something similar over your neck of the woods, or it's a day trip out to the closest run by the EoE group.

[grendel]

brogdale have the biggest collection of apple trees (over 2200 varieties) we took our unknown apples there but they were unable to match them, so we were given our money back. we had told them our apples dont keep well for long, but due to illness they didnt get to look at them straight away and so spoilt before they could do the tests - we did try comparing them with the trees outside, but never found a perfect match, so ours are still a mystery.
You do have to provide them with several fruit and some leaves as I recall.
It is easier if you can take them in person as they will take you into the orchards to try and get a visual match first.
Grendel