An RHS Award for Jim!
by | posted in: Hartpury, identification, orchard, pears, perry, perry pears, varieties | 0

Many congratulations to Jim Chapman, our (actually the) Perry Pear expert, who has been presented with the RHS 2023 George Lockie Award for his perry pear work.

The award is given by the Royal Horticultural Society in recognition of “significant personal achievement relating to fruit, vegetables or culinary herbs.”

The presentation took place on 16th September at the Hartpury Orchard Centre open afternoon. The award was presented by RHS fruit root and herb committee chairman Tony Girard.

Picture by Martin Hayes.

First Plum Day report from Hartpury
by | posted in: Hartpury, harvest, identification, Past Events, plum day, plums, stone fruit, varieties | 0

Jim Chapman writes, about the Plum Day held at Hartpury at the end of August:

“We eventually had about 35 plums in the plum display, with others discarded having gone over – I realise now why nobody does one, would have been far better a week earlier. Next year, if I try again, I will let the plums dictate the date and then announce it on facebook, not try to advertise a date ahead ! However we had visitors from Evesham and Pershore saying that even the Pershore Plum Festival didn’t display many.

60 people turned up, so not bad for a first attempt (if I am honest I think many were attracted by the tap bar!). Visitors particularly enjoyed tasting some Victoria alternatives – Jimmy Moore, Cox’s Emperor (Denbigh), and of course, Bristol. Still waiting to verify the Jacob, when it fruits.”

(and, for all those interested in Gloucestershire’s Plum varieties, why not buy a copy of Charles Martell’s 2018 book about them? The paperback edition of Native Plums of Gloucestershire is available to buy on our Bookshop page here)

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Exhibition of Stan Giles’ orchard paintings; October 3rd to 8th, 2023
by | posted in: Events, exhibition, New Events, orchard | 0
One of Stan's orchard paintings
One of Stan’s orchard paintings

GOT member Stan Giles has been drawing and painting in Gloucestershire orchards over the last year and has an exhibition at the Three Storeys creative venue in Nailsworth in October.

Details of the exhibition are here:
https://www.threestoreys.co.uk/whatsonarticles/stan123

And you can read and see more about Stan’s work on his own website here:  https://walkswithapaintbrushuk.wordpress.com

Orchard survey online
by | posted in: orchard | 0
Another student questionnaire about orchards!
Julian Barnes, at City University, London, is studying for an MSc in Food Policy. His dissertation is concerned with the decline of traditional/non-intensive orchards in the UK, as well as discovering their socio-cultural and environmental value.
He has asked if GOT members could help by participating in his (anonymous) questionnaire which is online at:
Do pass this on to anyone else who may be interested.

Show time! August to September 2023
by | posted in: cider, cider apples, Hartpury, identification, Juice, New Events, pears, perry, perry pears | 0

GOT members will be attending and exhibiting fruit, juice and cider and perry at several shows this season.

There’s the Malvern Autumn Show, 22nd to 24th September where Jim Chapman will again be exhibiting his amazing collection of perry pears. Three Counties Showground, Malvern WR13 6NW.

Jim will also be displaying perry pears at Hartpury on the afternoon of Saturday 16th September. 

And also on Friday 13th October at the Hereford Courtyard Theatre, Edgar St., Hereford HR4 9JR.

Additionally, there may be a display of plums at Hartpury on the afternoon of Sunday 27th August, primarily to show Gloucestershire’s plums varieties. If it happens, this will include the Bristol plum; until recently the only known tree had plum pox, but we now have a clean tree from which to propagate.

Not forgetting…the Frampton Country Fair, Sunday 10th September, one of the last truly country fairs.  Tim Andrews, Trustee, will be there with his Orchard Revival cider and perry. For more information visit the website https://framptoncountryfair.co.uk or call 01452 740152 or email info@framptoncountryfair.co.uk

Longney Apple Harvest Saturday 21st October
by | posted in: apples, harvest, Juice, Longney, New Events, orchard, volunteers | 0

from 10:00

Apples picked in October will contribute to the Trust’s coffers, as the fruit will be sold to Trust Juice … and you’ll also receive some free apple juice in return.

 

If the access track is still navigable in November then there may also be a fruit harvesting day on Saturday 18th November.

Diary dates for 2024 – pruning workshops and other events
by | posted in: Hartpury, Longney, New Events, orchard, pruning, volunteers, workshop | 0

Saturday 13th January, from 10:00 Pruning workshop at Longney

Saturday 10th February, from 10:00 Pruning workshop at Longney

Saturday 9th March, from 10:00 Pruning workshop at Hartpury

Saturday 13th April:  Location and activity to be confirmed

Saturday 11th May:  Location and activity to be confirmed

Saturday 6th June;  Location and activity to be confirmed

We levy a small fee of £5 for the pruning workshops from our supporters; the sessions are also open to the general public for a fee of £25.

If you’d like to sign up to a pruning workshop then please email martin.hayes@glosorchards.org and treasurer@glosorchards.org

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