Longney Workshops throughout 2023
by | posted in: biodiversity, community, Events, GOT Events, Longney, meetings, New Events, orchard, planting, pruning, varieties, volunteers, workshop | 0

GOT orchardist Martin Hayes is running a series of workshops at GOT’s lovely Longney Orchard, south of Gloucester.

Date will be (many not yet confirmed):

  • Friday Feb 17th Pruning, mature apple trees (10:00 to 15:00)
  • Wednesday Mar 22nd Pruning, young apple & pear trees (10:00 to 15:00)
  • Wednesday Apr 12th Pruning, young apple & pear trees (10:00 to 15:00)
  • Wednesday 10th May Pruning, mature plum trees (10:00 to 15:00)
  • Wednesday 14th June Pruning, young plum trees (10:00 to 15:00)
  • July, date tbc General maintenance
  • Aug, date tbc General maintenance
  • Aug, date tbc Pick your own plums
  • Sept, date tbc Pick your own plums (and apples, if any are ripe)
  • Oct, date tbc Fruit picking for Trust Juice
We are hoping that a regular work-party will be able to help with general maintenance, but no commitment if you just want to attend a pruning workshop.
There is a barn (with interpretation signage), chairs, composting loo and running cold water. Have your lunch in the barn!
Martin is very knowledgeable; so much to learn/share. He will go through health and safety with you. He is first aid trained and we have a first aid kit in the store. The ground is uneven, there are some brambles and low hanging branches.
Tools will be provided, but do bring your own saws, secateurs and gloves if you can. Please bring own refreshments and appropriate footwear and weather attire.
No dogs please; there are sheep and please keep gates closed.
No vehicular access, so please park at or near the white railings on the road, being mindful of neighbours.
Please book (essential) through Ann Smith ann@smithcovell.co.uk  and on the day please bring emergency contact details for Martin.
£5 for GOT members for just the workshops (and £20 for non members, which includes a year’s membership).
You can pay through the Donate button on the GOT website at https://glosorchards.org/home/join-us-got-membership/
(non members can also join on that page).

Pruning workshop at GOT’s Longney Orchard 18th January 2023
by | posted in: Longney, meetings, orchard, Past Events, pruning, volunteers, workshop | 0
For GOT Members only:
Orchardist Martin Hayes is running a pruning workshop at GOT’s Longney Orchard on this coming Wednesday 18th January between 10am and 3pm.
Tools will be provided, but do bring your own saws, secateurs and gloves if you can.
Please bring own refreshments and appropriate footwear and weather attire.
The track is very muddy but the orchards are lovely and we’ve been blessed with fieldfares feasting on fallen fruit.
No dogs please; there are sheep and please keep gates closed.
No vehicular access, so please park at or near the white railings on the road, being mindful of neighbours.
No charge but GOT members only – (you can join at https://glosorchards.org/home/join-us-got-membership/)
There is a barn (with interpretation signage), chairs, composting loo and running cold water. Have your lunch in the barn!
Martin is very knowledgeable; so much to learn/share.
He will go through health and safety with you. He is first aid trained and we have a first aid kit in the store.
The ground is uneven, there are some brambles and low hanging branches. The river Severn is fenced off.
Please leave prunings in designated piles.
If anyone is able to take a couple of photos on the day (if no one objects) for the GOT website and newsletter, please let me know, thank you!
First orchard is Long Tyning (long and thin) then Bollow. Also on site are Middle & Lower Orchards which have been planted up with heritage apple and plum trees of regional/national importance.
Please book through Martin on 07900 985679 or martin.hayes9@yahoo.com
and on the day please bring emergency contact details.  2022/12/21 at 12:26

Wolds End Orchard Wassail Friday 13th January 2023 
by | posted in: meetings, orchard, Past Events, volunteers, wassail | 0

Wassail is on! Friday 13 January 2023 

Eight Bells Inn, Church St, from 7pm, Wolds End Orchard, approx 8pm, Red Lion Tavern, Lower High St, approx 9pm

The Campden Wassailers will meet in The Eight Bells Inn from 7pm to play and enjoy some traditional folk music; at about 8pm there will be a procession to Wolds End Orchard. After the traditional Wassail ceremony at the Orchard –  including singing of the Old Apple Tree Chant and enjoying a glass of mulled cider or apple juice around the fire – there will be a procession from the Orchard to the Red Lion Tavern, where more music will ensue. The Procession is led by ‘Musicianeers’ and followed by ‘Pot Rattlers’ (basically rattling and banging pots or drums) to make a ‘din’ and frighten off evil spirits.

All Hail the Wassail!

Please wear suitable footwear and outdoor clothing – site is very uneven and has slopes.

Parking on the High Street or Campden School Car Park.

Please also bring torches or wear battery operated lights for the Grand Procession betwixt pubs and orchard.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Picture credits:-

Apple Tree with ladder & blue star paper lanterns is courtesy of Janice Burns

All others are courtesy of Julianne Davis and Paul Bryan.

Orchard Learning Programme 2023 at Horfield Organic Community Orchard
by | posted in: course, horfield, meetings, New Events, orchard, pruning, rootstock, varieties, volunteers, workshop | 0
Pruning in winter

Horfield Organic Community Orchard (HOCO) is celebrating 25 years as a community and fruit-growing project. Since 1998 hundreds of volunteer members have cared for nearly a hundred fruiting trees. HOCO is also raising an urban orchard for community education and horticultural experimentation. The Orchard Learning Programme, developed in 2018, is a hands-on and holistic adventure in community orcharding that guides participants over a growing season at HOCO.

The 9-month course (see dates summary below) is designed to deepen the knowledge and sharpen the skills of those involved in the close care of fruit trees. It is ideal for growers with previous fruit growing experience, and highly recommended for anyone starting up, or involved with, an orchard. Participants work with less-than-perfect trees and learn by doing.

Programme content and structure are always evolving – driven by climate chaos, and shaped by the experiences and needs of participants. The blend of group learning days and one-to-one sessions was a great success when introduced last year. All sessions take place outdoors in the example-rich Horfield Organic Community Orchard. They are led by Shannon Smith – an experienced community orchard grower and educator.

Successful applicants are partnered with a fruit tree – their Tree Buddy – for the year. They join with other HOCO members to help organise orchard working meetings and community events.

Places are limited. Deadline for applications is Sunday 29 January 2023.

More information on the HOCO website: www.community-orchard.org.uk

Longney Pruning Workshops, February and March 2022
by | posted in: apples, Longney, meetings, Past Events, pruning, volunteers, workshop | 0

Update:  Sorry, 14th March workshop is now fully booked and 7th March workshop has been cancelled.

Martin Hayes is leading a series of informal pruning workshops at GOT’s lovely Longney Orchard (south of Gloucester by the River Severn).

These are for GOT members only.   Cost will be £10 per head.

Please book one session (booking essential) through Ann Smith ann@smithcovell.co.uk who can advise on payment methods.  You can also pay via this PayPal button:


If you pay by PayPal please also email Ann with details of which session you’re booking.

Dates: Mondays 14 February, 7 March, 14 March.  Noon-3pm

Martin will go through Health and Safety and we would need everyone to sign in with an emergency contact phone number please. Bring own tools, gloves and boots. Martin is very knowledgeable and there’s always something to learn and share. Stone fruit will not be pruned – only May to September on dry days for plums and cherries to reduce the chance of silver leaf disease.

We look forward to seeing you! If you are not a member and would like to attend, please join GOT at https://glosorchards.org/home/join-us-got-membership/

If you are a community orchard group you get a year’s free membership. Please enquire via Ann.

 

 

Pruning workshop December 2021
by | posted in: apples, GOT Events, Longney, meetings, orchard, pruning, volunteers, workshop | 0

Eight GOT members attended Martin Hayes’ pruning workshop at GOT’s Longney orchard on Thursday 16th December 2021.

There was time to discuss members’ individual orchard queries and to learn about a range of issues including planting, rootstocks and guarding trees.

Trust Juice and cider was available to purchase.

The resident pheasant kept an eye on the proceedings from a safe distance from Martin’s dog!

Photos kindly taken by Jacquie Sarsby.

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

GOT AGM postponed
by | posted in: AGM, meetings | 0

With the ongoing crisis over the coronavirus outbreak and emerging advice to minimise social contact, particularly for older age groups, we have decided to postpone our AGM, which was due to be on Saturday 18th April.

We will reschedule the AGM once the progress of the epidemic is clearer.  On current thinking the new date is likely to be some months away, possibly in the autumn.

We hope everyone stays safe – and do let committee know if you want to raise any questions in the meantime.

Jonathan Briggs
Chair, GOT Committee 17th March 2020