FRUIT is an unlikely reason for a row. But Faversham's fruit furore involving Government, landowner, charity and local councils, is a rare case of apples and pears being on the same side of the equation.

What happens in the next few weeks at Brogdale will affect its status as a world-renowned repository of fruit varieties. Like Noah and his ark animals, it has two of just about any fruit you can name, and plenty more you can’t.

Some were once popular, now perhaps out of fashion. And it’s not just about apples and pears, but cherries, cobnuts and hazelnuts, plums and quinces.

The collections have received government funding for many years - Defra leases 60 acres for £200,000 a year - but the contract is currently out to tender.

Those who want to keep this unique resource in Faversham fear it may be switched to East Malling, a move apparently backed by Brogdale Horticultural Trust, a charity that has run the site for 18 years, in association with Imperial College and East Malling Research.

Tony Hillier, chairman of Hillreed Land, the site owner, is fighting to keep the collections at Brogdale. His company has invested a million pounds in the site.

He says a move would not only be bad for Brogdale, it would be disastrous for Kent and Swale.

He admits he is often portrayed as the big bad developer in this dispute, with opponents suspecting his company has designs on it for house-building. "In a gunfight, the villain will always be the developer," he quips.

But he insists that he has the guaranteed future of the collections at Faversham as his top priority, and that any initial intention to build homes is now "a closed book".

"We bought the farm not just out of commercial interest but because we are interested in the environment, Kent, and job creation," he said.

But he says altruism must be complemented by appropriate commercial developments on the 160-acre site. He wants to attract more than the 20,000 visitors to Brogdale every year, a figure he said would grow as it broadened it appeal.

Over the last few months, workmen have been busy constructing outlets that will offer bread, cakes, local produce and crafts in a so-called marketplace. Workshops are being created for small and start-up businesses. Together, these projects could create around 50 jobs. There is also a conference room on the site.

"I want to develop a vibrant and attractive place based around the collections," Mr Hillier says. He believes the Trust, which, in its defence, has faced cash problems, has not done enough to promote the site.

"Frankly, there hasn’t been a lot here - it’s not been a family day out. You’ve got to be a bit of a treehead to look at them. Making it more accessible to a wider range of people will underpin the future of the collections. A sensible commercial investment for us is that it’s got to wash its face."

Alongside commercial activity, Mr Hillreed wants to turn the collections into a social enterprise, but he is adanmant that it would not turn into Swale’s Disneyland.

In scientific terms, the collections no longer have to be retained as trees. Seeds in a deep freeze would serve the purpose of fruit conservation.

But Mr Hillier believes this would be a sad outcome. "We want to retain them as a living collection because they’re not only a scientific resource, a deep freeze with a bunch of bits of apple will not stimulate people to take an interest in fruit and trees and genetics.

"I’m not a horticulturist but I’m interested in this as an outstanding national asset. I’m not interested in seeing it tucked at the back of a shed in a deep freeze factory."

Before Hillreed Lane bought the 160-acre site 18 years ago, with help from Swale council and the Prince of Wales, it was owned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Seven years ago, Prince Charles wanted to sell his share and when the Trust could not find a buyer, Hillreed stepped in.

Mr Hillier claims that the Trust, which was given a seven-year lease after the Prince of Wales sold his stake, has not done enough to promote the site. He claims it is only since Hillreed assumed full control earlier this year that things have begun to happen.

If Brogdale loses its national fruit collection status, trees will not be grubbed up. But it would lose its cachet of home to the national fruit collection, and that could hit its present appeal.

"It’s not only tourism, it’s science, it’s horticulture, there are all the other benefits that spin off from the collections," Mr Hillier said.

"This is part of the Thames Gateway and we’re looking to grow the economy, to grow jobs and prospects for the area. For the Government to take this project out of Swale would be a real disappointment for the area."