Blossom Celeration

COME AND HELP US CELEBRATE THE BLOSSOM IN OUR ORCHARD

 Saturday 14 MAY

10-30 TO 12

DO JOIN US

BRING YOUR CHILDREN AND MAKE SOME NEW FRIENDS

COFFEE and APPLE CAKE of course!

Further information from Helen (01883 713160)

 helenellson205@btinternet.com

 

Flowers on the route approaching the orchard

A general view of the orchard

Blossom on the Comice pear

Damaged Sunset tree showing its protective bandage

 

MANURING DAY 19 March

Eleven keen Friends assembled at the Orchard yesterday to do the annual weed, manure and mulch of the trees. The trees look very cosy under a warm duvet of rotted manure and 6 month old wood chip. We have found this regime essential both to feed the trees but also to keep the winter moisture around the roots. The sap has started to rise and the buds are swelling…..here’s to a fruitful season.

Many thanks to everyone who came to help….our next working party will be a general tidying up with possibly a bonfire….date yet to be arranged.

We are planning a blossom viewing Coffee Morning in May.

JOB DONE!

RABBIT DAMAGE

This is a picture of the damage found at the end of February on one of our most prolifically cropping trees….Sunset. We think a single rabbit would have caused the wound…..and this girdling is most likely to kill the tree. Because the outer bark and cambium layer have been damaged so badly, water and nutrients can not progress up the tree.
RHS Advisory suggests that we do nothing and see what happens……but meanwhile we could wrap some damp moss around the area, securing it under plastic to try to give a warmer damp environment to encourage regrowth if that is possible.

Also we must be extra vigilant with ensuring the chicken wire protection around every tree remains securely in place……we still have 29 other trees to look after!

WORKING PARTY: SATURDAY 19 MARCH

Our next working party is on Sat 19 March starting at 10am……with coffee at about 11am.

·         Weed around each tree
·         Spread manure around each tree (already bagged up in October)
·         Cover whole tree site with wood chip to conserve moisture…..
·         Leave tree having checked the stake (if there is one) with tie leaving room to grow, no constricting labels AND THE RABBIT NETTING SECURELY PINNED TO THE GROUND WITH NO SPACE UNDERNEATH

There are also some tree trunks ready cut in the woods which we could use in the orchard tree circles or even make into some wooden stepping stones for the children!

So you’ll need to bring gloves, grab bags for the weeds, kneelers, hand forks, border fork/spade for manipulating the manure and mulch, possibly a rake or 2 and if anyone has a wheelbarrow that would be marvellous.

Hoping to see some new faces there…….you are all welcome for coffee however long you can stay!

With good wishes to you all….and hoping for a bumper year

Helen and the Orchard TEAM

PRUNING MASTER CLASS 2016

We have spent some of this weekend (mid February) pruning our apple trees. It was rather wet and cold on Saturday when we held the Master Class (led as usual most ably by Jan Lambourn) but we had 10 “students” who braved the weather and hopefully enjoyed the morning in the orchard. During the afternoon we visited the walled garden at Barrow Green (run most productively by Linda Boakes and Rick Meakin to whom we owe our thanks) where we tackled a very ancient pair of espalier apple trees.

In our Orchard, most trees are growing well, with just a couple showing signs of canker (which had to be pruned out of course) In fact the amount of wood removed was pretty minimal for some trees……others like the Bramley Seedling needed quite large branches removing. The aim is to keep the centre open, to remove any diseased and crossing branches and to ensure growth remains balanced over the whole tree. Fruit buds are much in evidence on most trees and so we hope that the Wassail will ensure a good fruit set following the blossom and a good crop of apples. The pears were hardly touched at all. In the summer we will reduce some of the tallest branches. Doing it then will reduce the number of also watershoots.

This year we decided that some of the wiring of the deer guards is inhibiting the natural growth so in some cases we have cut and bent the wiring down to allow spread of the branches and avoid any rubbing. The large stakes supporting the wiring will not last for ever….but the trees are stronger now and hopefully can withstand a little deer nibbling should that occur.

WASSAIL 2016

Getting everything ready at the Orchard

This year’s Wassail on 7 February was a great success with over 220 people enjoying the torchlight procession and the amazing bonfire. We were extremely lucky with the weather…..dry both during the preparation (building the bonfire etc) and the evening…..with heavy rain and wind only arriving as we were clearing up. The Wassail Captain (Ed Heaver) and his merry men excelled this year with extra drumming and even more wacky songs, very much enjoyed by the many children….all singing along of course. The mulled cider and our traditional apple cake (+ by request) hot dogs disappeared in no time.

We asked for donations towards the Orchard and we were gratified by most generous contributions. The Wassail is our biggest means of raising money each year and the money will be put to good use….paying towards insurance and mowing for a start.

This event could only take place with help given so generously by our many Friends…Jennie Ephgrave (managing the whole event) Eleanor, Stuart Fox, Peter Tindell, Michael Whyte and Peter Jarvis (making the torches) Ian Green and Matt Dawson (bonfire), Sarah Salmon (sausages) Rosemary Buchan (song sheets) Nigel (again) for photography, and the other many many others who man the route with torches, serve the cider hot dogs and apple cake and stay afterwards to tidy up. Indeed a truly community event.

We are pruning this Saturday (13 February), and then spreading the manure on a Saturday in March so do come along if you would like to help. We will be reminding everyone of the date nearer the time.

After that we will be looking forward to seeing the blossom and the bluebells and spring will be with us.

The photos below give just a hint of the fun and excitement of the evening. 

WASSAIL PARTY 2016

WASSAIL PARTY

Sunday 7 February

5.00pm assemble at the Limpsfield British Legion  

where you can buy a drink

6.00pm  Torchlight procession through woods to the orchard, where we shall offer cider, bread and salt to the “King” tree and pass round the wassail bowl.  After singing together around the bonfire we will serve mulled cider, juice, hotdogs and apple cake

Everyone - especially families – Welcome

Bring  rattles, drums, whistles, tins anything to make a loud noise    

Wear something warm and bright

Donations very welcome

(eg £2 per head would cover our costs)

For more information 

phone 01883 716523