Orchard Volunteers

I am going to Brogdales in Kent on Saturday 14th November to undertake a day course in fruit tree management comprising of lectures in the morning and practical pruning workshops in the afternoon, very exciting indeed.

http://www.brogdalecollections.co.uk/

If you love fruit and have not been why not go along next year they have many events and it really is smashing.

We are planning to prune a third of the orchard trees this year and if anybody would be prepared to help and learn would they please let me know, with possible dates. We can do a weekend day and perhaps a day in the week too? We will need a coupe of ladders, sharp secateurs and saws.

Orchard

Have had excellent feedback from everyone I contacted and now have detailed information of restoration of the orchard which has been neglected for many years. Obviously it is not a commercial orchard so we will be looking to run it along the lines of traditional orchards with minimal interference.

I am intending to undertake a condition survey of the trees as soon as time allows, plotting location, tree details including dimensions, health and then with input from others devise a management plan. As with gardening it will take time but should be very rewarding increasing fruit production and enhancing wildlife habitat especially amongst the orchard mosaic.

Whilst I can identify the species of the individual trees there are a staggering number of varieties of fruit trees (6000 for Apple alone) and it may be we will need to use one of a few specialists to undertake this for us. The variety will dictate the best management practice.