The original Bramley apple tree, over 220 years old and the source of Britain's beloved cooking apple, is at risk after the site where it grows was put up for sale. The tree stands in the back garden of cottages in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, owned by Nottingham Trent University (NTU) since 2018 and used for student accommodation. NTU said the cottages are no longer suitable for living due to their "age and configuration," so they decided to sell the site. Celia Steven, 85, great granddaughter of Henry Merryweather—the man who first introduced the Bramley apple commercially—expressed deep concern. She said, "It’s a very famous tree. It’s a very well-loved tree and it means a lot." She warned, "Sadly people are a bit prone to cut down trees and think about it later so I find it very disturbing." The tree started from a pip planted by Mary Anne Brailsford between 1809 and 1815. Henry Merryweather discovered the apple nearly 50 years later and promoted it as the "King of Covent Garden." Despite being Britain’s best-known cooking apple source, the tree has never received a legal preservation order. It has, however, been honoured by the royal family as one of the 50 "great British trees" during the Queen’s golden jubilee in 2022 and as part of 70 ancient trees for the platinum jubilee. Dan Llywelyn Hall, founder of the Mother Bramley Legacy Fund, is raising funds with the Merryweather family to buy the site, calling the tree "the most important, most famous apple tree in the world." He notes the tree is still alive despite suffering from incurable honey fungus. NTU said they are proud to have cared for the tree and worked hard to maintain it beyond its natural lifespan. They also stressed they want the tree to stay with a responsible caretaker and will keep offering expert advice. The fate of this iconic apple tree now depends on who acquires its site and whether it will receive the protection it deserves.