Longney Pruning Workshop #1

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Thanks to those who helped us with pruning the apple trees at Longney on the first of two workshops by GOT on Tuesday 11 May 2021.

After being shown around the orchards, collections, habitats and barn, twelve keen GOT members and associates were given tuition by orchardist Martin Hayes before having a go themselves.

This week attention was on medium sized apple trees.  Plums are next – on 18th May (https://glosorchards.org/home/blog/2021/04/25/pruning-workshops/)

We are always keen for volunteers to help maintain the orchards, particularly with hand-weeding.

Please get in touch with Ann Smith via the website if interested.

Photos kindly provided by Gabby Davies, David Taylor and Melanie Getgood.

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Grangefield Community Orchard Pruning workshop 22nd May

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Come and improve your orchard skills at this pruning workshop

Expert tuition from Martin Hayes of Gloucestershire Orchard Trust

Saturday 22nd May 11am to 3pm

All are welcome – £5 charge

For more information:

email: transition.cleeve@gmail.com

ring: 01242 244785

facebook: facebook.com/grangefieldcommunityorchard.com

Pruning Workshops: 11th & 18th May 2021

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Martin Hayes is leading two pruning workshops at GOT’s lovely Longney Orchards on

Tuesday 11th May 2021 and Tuesday 18th May 2021 at 10am-3pm (or whatever time you can spare).  Booking essential (see below)

We welcome you even if you just want to come down and enjoy the orchards, take photos or just hear what Martin has to say. There’s always something new to learn or see! We also value any help members/volunteers can give at Longney, but there is no obligation. Anyone who would like to come regularly will also be welcome. We currently have school groups, special needs young people and asylum seekers that Martin oversees on other days.

11th May: Apple pruning

Morning: talk on GOT and orchard tour. Pruning of medium sized trees.

Afternoon: pruning of young trees.

18th May: Plum pruning

Same as above.

Booking:

Please book through Ann Smith on ann@smithcovell.co.uk

No charge! Maximum of 12 places for each day. You may be able to do both workshops.

Please bring:

A packed lunch/tea/coffee/snacks but juice is provided and will also be for sale. We will bring some extra biscuits!

Appropriate weather attire/stout footwear.

There is a barn, tables and chairs if it rains.

Please observe socially distancing, wear a mask and bring hand sanitizer/wipes for yourself, although we will have some. There is also running cold water and a composting toilet.

Martin has some tools but if you can bring gloves and any pruning tools, that would be extremely helpful.

We hope to bring some orchard-related books for sale, so please bring your cheque book (payable to “GOT”) or cash. We intend to let you browse/buy these at the white railings at 10am (too heavy to take the set down to the orchards!)

Health & Safety:

Martin will go through Health & Safety with you, but I will email a Risk Assessment to those who book. Martin is first aid trained and we have a first aid kit.

We will need in advance a list of attendees and emergency phone numbers.

The ground is uneven and there are brambles, nettles and low hanging branches. No climbing of ladders please, as we are not insured for that.

Please pile up any prunings into designated piles, rather than just leaving on the ground as we need to mow. Don’t put into the hedgerow please.

Parking/Meeting:

Please park sensitively near the white railings (near Bow Lane Cottage) at Longney or safely anywhere along the road. There is no vehicular access to the orchards – just continue on foot down the public right of way track at the white railings. The grid ref. for the white railings is SO 7598 1368.

Martin will either meet you at the white railings or just come on down (several hundred yards across arable to the orchards). In wet weather, the track is extremely muddy. 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. Sorry, no dogs as we have sheep. Please keep gates closed.

Come and see the renovated barn, interpretation signage and enjoy the views and wildlife (we have several species of owls). This is a great opportunity to learn new skills or continue with already acquired skills.

Apple Day, 21st October

It’s Apple Day, as usual, on 21st October!

National Apple Day was launched in 1990 by Common Ground. Their aspiration was to create a calendar custom, an autumn holiday. From the start, Apple Day was intended to be both a celebration and a demonstration of the variety we are in danger of losing, not simply in apples, but in the richness and diversity of landscape, ecology and culture too. It has also played a part in raising awareness in the provenance and traceability of food.

The concept has become incredibly successful over the 30 years since – with events taking place all over the country organised by local orchard and apple groups, across a range of dates throughout October.  The Covid restrictions this year mean that there are rather fewer events than usual but some are still taking place and, if there are none near you, you can always celebrate at a local level in your own garden!

https://ptes.org/campaigns/traditional-orchard-project/orchard-network/apple-day/

https://www.commonground.org.uk/apple-day/

 

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