NEWEST MEMBER OF THE TEAM

We'd like to introduce you all the newest (and best dressed) member of the Limpsfield Community Orchard Team, made by the talented Stephen Rapoport, James Reeves and their children! Thank you very much! 

Put to work before the scarecrow even has a name, we hope the deer will not be visiting while they are on duty. Luckily the local school children have been tasked with naming our newest team member and we are very much looking forward to hearing their imaginative suggestions! So far, ideas include Russell (scare) Crowe and Welly McBooterson. Be sure to check back on the blog where we will reveal the name of our upstanding volunteer in due course. 

🍎🍏 Our, as yet, unnamed scarecrow 🍏🍎

WORKING PARTY - 2ND MARCH 2022

We will be gathering in the Orchard at 0930 on Wednesday 2^nd March for our regular work party. 

If you would like to join us please contact Helen directly (helenellson205@btinternet.com). Knowing how many people are turning up in advance helps with planning and coordinating the morning (as well as ensuring there's enough coffee supplies!) 

Jobs to do

🍎 Weed round each tree site and apply Vitax Q4 

🍎 Spread wood chip on each apple and pear tree site (plus damsons). The wood chip is all ready in the Orchard in bags and we have 2 wheelbarrows

 

Specialist work

🍎 Start replacing tree guard support stakes

🍎 Check and redo wire support systems. In many cases the trees are not properly supported and we need to get this all done asap before the trees come properly into leaf.

 

Looking forward to seeing you there!

 

Helen and the Orchard TEAM

FEBRUARY 2022 - NEW DEAD HEDGE

If you've visited the Orchard recently you may have spotted our newly constructed dead hedge, hidden behind the laurel. By making a permanent structure of woody material, pruning and hedge clippings, we encourage small mammals to hibernate and beneficial insects to lay eggs where they are warm and dry. Gradually it will rot down, allowing more material to be added year by year. 

Doesn't it look great? Many thanks to our wonderful volunteers for their excellent work! 

~ Laying the foundations for the dead hedge ~

~ Having fun at work ~ 

~ Newly constructed dead hedge ~

~ Newly constructed dead hedge ~ 

JANUARY 2022 WASSAIL

Thank you to all who attended our annual Wassail a fortnight ago. After an enforced hiatus last year it was great to be back and we are lucky to have a wonderful write up about the event by our very own Friend of the Orchard, Carolle Stent. 

January is not my favourite month; it is cold, wet and dark, and Christmas with all of its light and celebrations is over. In 2018 I went to my first Wassail and discovered that this is a celebration involving light, fire and ancient ritual in the midst of January gloom. 

The Wassail event started inside Limpsfield British Legion. When I arrived North Downs Drummers, dressed in stunning costumes, were seated and an ever-increasing crowd of all ages gathered in the bar area. A bucket collection went around, song sheets were handed out, flaming torches and glow-in the-dark pendants were available for donations and then Andrew Claringbull donned his hat to become our Wassail Master. This is a role that he has fulfilled and developed since he started in 2016.  He explained the ancient origins of what we were about to see and do. I learned that Wassail is timed to mark the beginning of pagan New Year; the time when winter darkness begins to lessen and daytime lengthens; the time when trees begin to awaken. Wassailing is a fertility ritual designed to ensure that the apple crop for the coming year will thrive.

Wassail Master - Andrew Claringbull

Excitement began to build in the assembled crowd, particularly in the young children who were full of anticipation for going out in the dark when they would normally be approaching bedtime. We sang a short song and then regrouped in the car park. Here our noise levels increased as the drum band with their colourfully illuminated drums and headgear swung into action. Imagine the scene, stillness and moonlight above with a riot of coloured lights, noise and action below. Flaming torches were lit. The Wassail Master and his two delightful young Wassail princesses along with the drum band led the procession along the road across the Common, up Grub Street and then through the wood. I tried to estimate the number of people taking part and guessed that there were at least 150 of us. A muddy path goes down steep steps and then snakes through woodland. As you leave the wood you go up a steep slope and at the top, through the trees, we were greeted by the sight of a huge bonfire and the full moon.

Procession from the British Legion down to the Orchard

Bonfire in full swing

Arriving in the Orchard you were drawn to the King Tree. This glorious apple tree was decked out in finery with bunting and fairy lights adorning its branches and a ring of tea lights around its roots. The Wassail Master and the two Wassail princesses stood beneath the tree and we wassailers gathered around them in a circle. The drum band and the wassailers ensured that the noise level did not abate. Once all were assembled, the ritual began. Andrew ably fulfilled his role in directing the libations to the King Tree. After he declaimed to the tree and blessed it to be fruitful a steaming bowl of cider was produced and a piece of toast dipped in cider was given to the tree as ‘food’. One of the tiny princesses could just reach a bough of the tree to balance it in place. Next, salt was sprinkled around the trunk and finally cider was poured on the roots. The ceremony around the tree concluded with song. Owing to covid the wassail cup could not be handed around but mulled cider and apple juice were available for all. By this time the warmth of the bonfire was more than welcome. 

Decorated King Tree

Wassail Master directing the libations at the decorated King Tree

Thanks are due to all who made this wonderful event possible. The obvious ones are those involved in the pageant – Andrew Claringball and the North Downs Drummers. Less obvious are all the volunteers who put the event together, built and tended the bonfire, adorned the king tree, illuminated the woodland, provided drinks, produced song sheets etc. This wonderful annual event could not happen without a team of volunteers. It is the main fund-raising event of the year for Limpsfield Community Orchard. The Orchard would not exist and it would certainly not continue to thrive without constant care and attention. If you feel that you can help in any way please contact Helen on 01883 723160 (orclimp@gmail.com).  I promise you that anything you give to this hidden gem in our community will be amply returned to you in enjoyment.

 

DECEMBER 2021 WORK PARTY

First of all, a huge thanks to all those who turned up to our December work party. There was much to do and the sun shone bright while our team of volunteers were hard at work tending to the Orchard. 

A quick reminder that our work parties are held on the first Wednesday of the month from 9:30am - 12:00 midday. Our volunteers age from 18 to very nearly 80! The next one is in February 2022 and if you would like to join us, please contact Helen - we'd love to see you. Read on to find out what the December team got up to!

🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏

Thomas (pictured above) planted our new Pitmaston Pine Apple tree. It is a maiden tree, which means it was grafted from the cutting of new growth from an adult tree (a scion) onto the roots of a young tree (a rootstock). Our new tree was grafted in February 2020. 

Our new tree will need much nurture, formative pruning and possibly watering in the spring and summer. It is very precious and you can see it is much protected with two rabbit guards, a deer guard and a massive stake. We should be able to collect the first fruit in 2024. 

🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏

There were many other jobs to complete after the tree planting. We applied sticky barrier gunk to each trunk to trap any female over-wintering winter moths when they try to migrate up into the trees from their hibernation in the tree mulch beneath each one. We also did a small bramble bash. We want to leave as much wild as we can to encourage over-wintering beneficial insects, hence we have not used any winter wash this year. 

🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏

Next up were the bird boxes. We now have four bird boxes - a robin box and three for tits. 

Two of the tit boxes had nests, so we were delighted! 

Here is Nigel (above) putting back the nice clean bird box ready for the spring. 

🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏

We found this hedgehog house in the Orchard during our December work party. We hope the local Mrs Tiggywinkle will find it! 🦔

🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏

Keep well everyone and don't forget the Wassail on 16th January 2022 from 5pm onwards at the Limpsfield British Legion. More details available here. 

WASSAIL - 16 JANUARY 2022

LIMPSFIELD COMMUNITY ORCHARD WASSAIL

Sunday 16th January 2022

People gathering around the fire with their torches

5.00pm - assemble at Limpsfield British Legion

6.00pm - torchlight procession through the woods to the orchard, where we shall offer cider, bread and salt to the King tree to ensure a good harvest and pass round the wassail bowl.

Everyone - especially families - Welcome

• Bring rattles, drums, whistles, tins, anything to make a loud noise and ward off the bad spirits   
• Wear something warm waterproof & colourful
• Enjoy mulled cider & apple juice around the bonfire. Don’t forget to bring mugs….and this year battery torches only
• Singalong 

Donations very welcome 

(eg £2 per head would cover our costs) 

For more information or if you would like to help on the day, phone 01883 713160 or orclimp@gmail.com

MESSY CHURCH IN THE ORCHARD

The Orchard was a hive of activity recently when Messy Church came to visit for the first time. It was very successful and a great time was had by all.  

"The afternoon was really lovely. Rev Helen gave a short talk then the children were sent off on a scavenger hunt and to tables dotted around the orchard with Harvest activities. We had over 30 children and they all really enjoyed it, especially eating apple cakes at the end!" - Caroline, Church Coordinator

Rev Helen giving a short talk

Some core members of Messy Church 

Scavenger hunt underway

Discovering a toadstool

Unbe-leaf-able creative talent