Apple Trees for Sale

NEW BENCH

On 30 January we had had a new bench installed in the Orchard. Very kindly the Special Projects Group which are part of the National Trust Limpsfield Task Force agreed to install the bench which matches the other benches in the Orchard (from Norbury Wood Products at Leatherhead...part of the Surrey Wildlife Trust)

We are delighted to have this new addition as it will enable us to view the blossom from above with the sun behind us.....so imagine this one late afternoon in May......with the blossom heavy on the trees and the bees buzzing lazily......oh to dream! I am sure it will be well used whatever the weather.....

PRUNING MASTER CLASS

PRUNING MASTER CLASS  

with  

Jan Lambourn 

our very own Fruit Expert.

Saturday February 10^th 2018

As Friends of the Orchard, do join us to learn the correct method to

prune top fruit (apples and pears)We will be able to brush up on the basics and then move on to pruning our own Orchard trees which are quite diverse, ranging from 2 year old feathered maidens, to those of 8 years old which require ladder work.

Do apply quickly as numbers are limited for the class. We will be giving priority to our Orchard Friends, and anyone who has worked in any capacity for the Orchard, and also taking into account those who have been before. We generally meet at about 10am for coffee and a chat then Jan will give a short talk about pruning top fruit in general and then we’ll get started on our own trees.

For further details and to book (by 1^st Feb please) contact Helen

01883 713160 or helenellson205@btinternet.com

WASAIL: SUNDAY 21 JANUARY

Gathering Wood for Wassail

Here we are at the Orchard in early December gathering wood for the Wassail......a good number turned up to help as you can see in the picture. The wood is stored under a tarpaulin to give it time to dry out before the Wassail on Sunday 21 January 2018. So do put this date into your diaries and watch this space for more information.
Any offers for help on the day of the Wassail would be warmly welcomed (01883 713160)

Orchard Fungi

Dated Nov 20th 2017.....this was a letter received about the interesting fungi which have been seen in the Orchard this autumn:

I am a local botanist and this morning, with a friend, was recording wild plants in the orchard. As we walked around we realised that there is quite a large number of fungi there, which possibly you are not aware of. Below I list some of those we saw, starting with the familiar red and white spotted fly agaric - the one all good fairies sit on!
Fly agaric -                 Amanita muscaria
Frilly skirts bracket -  Coriolus versicolor
Clouded agaric -        Clitocybe nebularis
Blewitt -                     Lepista nuda
Hairy stereum -          Stereum hirsutum
Puff ball -                   Lycoperdon perlatum
Stink horn -                Phallus Impudicus
A grey Russula
Buttercap -                 Collybia butyracea

I guess there are a lot of species because it is adjacent to the wood.
There were some beautiful fairy cup lichens too - and star moss.
The last time I visited was in the spring a couple of years ago when the foxgloves were magnificent. 
With kind regards,
Gwyneth Fookes
(Of the Bourne Society -
 Caterham's etc. Local history Society)

Limpsfield School Visit

Two classes from Limpsfield School visited the Orchard at harvest time to taste some of the apples. They enjoyed seeing how big the trees are getting now and even though the trees are about 7 years old, they tower over the children who are also 7 years old.