Grafting Workshop at North Nibley, 1st March 2022
by | posted in: GOT Events, grafting, orchard, Past Events, rootstock, volunteers, workshop | 0

Come along to a Grafting Workshop at North Nibley, 6.30pm to 9pm on 1st March 2022 at North Nibley Chapel, Barrs Lane GL11 6DT.

Cost £20 per person.

Learn to graft fruit trees in this practical hands-on session led by experts from the Gloucestershire Orchard Trust.

Participants will learn the theory before putting it into practice on their very own tree, that can be taken home to plant in the garden.

All tools and trees provided.

For further information contact Martin Hayes via martin@glosorchards.org or on 07900985679

Supported by Farming in Protected Landscapes funding.

Tree Planting at the Ionian Farmshop, Berkeley 19th Feb 2022
by | posted in: community, Past Events, planting, pruning, rootstock, volunteers, workshop | 0

The Ionian Farmshop and Kitchen on the A38 near Berkeley have a tree planting event on 19th February to design and make your community orchard.  With our own Tim Andrews to show them how.

They say:

“Give back and volunteer at The Ionian as we embark on our ambition to design and make your community orchard! Aiming to provide vital green space where you can interact with nature have space to learn skills such as planting, pruning and grafting. We can all do our bit in the battle against climate change, help wildlife and our own well being!
We’ll be collaborating with the amazing Tim Andrews who will share his knowledge with us on reviving traditional orchards. We need as many volunteers as possible for this project, any help will very much appreciated. To get involved, please email theionian.a38@gmail.com.  We are so proud to attract and make people from all walks of life and every background feel welcome at The Ionian, we encourage you to roll up your sleeves, lets work together on creating a sustainable future! ”

 

Fruit tree pruning at Days Cottage: 6th and 10th February 2022
by | posted in: Days Cottage, Events, Past Events, pruning, workshop | 0

Days Cottage are running two pruning courses in February:

– Sunday 6th February 10.00am – 1.00pm
– Thursday 10th February 10.00am – 1.00pm

Booking essential.

Learn to prune fruit trees of all ages. Hands-on training that demystifies those gardening book diagrams!

Create shapely, productive trees.

Cost £35.00

To book please contact applejuice@dayscottage.co.uk or 01452 813602

More info at http://dayscottage.co.uk/courses

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.

 

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Orchard Learning Programme blooms again in 2022 – Horfield Organic Community Orchard
by | posted in: Events, orchard, Past Events, workshop | 0

This hands-on and holistic 9 month course is designed to deepen the knowledge and sharpen the skills of those involved in the close care of fruit trees and orchards.

Participants are guided through a growing season and partnered up with a couple of ‘Tree Buddies’ from March to October. The blend of group learning days and one-to-one sessions is another special feature.

All sessions take place in the richly diverse out door learning environment of Horfield Organic Community Orchard in Bristol. Some previous fruit growing experience is needed.

The Orchard Learning Programme is ideal for those involved with community orchards, food growing projects or enterprises with a large number of fruit trees, professional gardeners, and keen amateur gardeners.

Deadline for applications is Friday 28 January 2022.

More information, course outline, fees, and dates on the HOCO website.

Contact: hocopips@gmail.com or phone 0117 373 1587

Martin visits Rockness Orchard
by | posted in: orchard, rockness, volunteers, workshop | 0

Martin Hayes, our advice-giving orchardist, reports on a recent visit to Rockness Orchard, a long-established community orchard GOT has recently become involved with:

A great day at Rockness Community Orchard ‘Stan’s Patch’.

The Gloucestershire Orchard Trust recently took the Orchard under its wings and a great partnership is ahead!

Fabulous cakes and biscuits with tea.

An orchardist’s life is tough!

And some appreciative feedback:

Apple Grafting Workshop 19th February 2022
by | posted in: apples, Events, grafting, Past Events, pastevent, workshop | 0

At Winterbourne Medieval Barn, Bristol, BS36 1SE

Booking essential – https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/bristol/winterbourne-medieval-barn/apple-grafting-workshop/e-kvdqjb

Come and learn how to graft apple trees on this course under the tuition of Ben Raskin, a previous commercial fruit grower and an enthusiastic, effective and very knowledgeable teacher, now Head of Horticulture at The Soil Association.

Grafting is the process of propagating new trees. You take the scion wood which is a twig from a variety of apple tree that you like, and then fuse it to the rootstock. The rootstock is the branch or stem of another tree which has been selected for size, or tolerance of certain soil conditions. This way you can clone fruit varieties, guaranteeing that the fruit on the tree is as tasty as you want it to be!

You will learn why we graft, how to graft and put these skills into practice by forming at least three grafts that you can take away at the end of the day.

Everybody who has provided feed back from previous course has rated the course as excellent. Here are some quotes from previous attendees:
‘Learning a new skill that I feel confident I can use independently and that I came away with 4 trees that I have made’
‘Excellent information. Good guidance. Friendly and fun.’
‘Hands on, great support and encouragement throughout, taking part in an ancient practice.’
‘Friendly, no previous knowledge/experience required. Time for everyone, un-rushed and relaxed.’

We will provide some common varieties for grafting. If you have a favourite that you wish to propagate, then bring your own wood to graft. If there is a particular variety that you wish to graft but do not have the wood, please let us know and we will attempt to procure some wood for you. The only equipment you will need to bring is a very sharp knife (e.g. a Stanley Knife) and some secateurs.

Cost £45, tea coffee and biscuits will be provided, please bring your own lunch.

If you have any questions about this workshop, please contact Robert on 0117 957 4921.

Booking essential – https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/bristol/winterbourne-medieval-barn/apple-grafting-workshop/e-kvdqjb

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