We are having a work weekend 19th-20th March to plant the trees bought from a specialist nursery - we only have a little time left to get this done as the trees need planting in their dormant season.
If you're interested in coming along we'll be there from 11-2 pm Saturday and 11-1.30 Sunday. Lots to do, so if you can spare an hour do come. There will be soup and bread on offer to warm you up if its cold. If the weather is kind we may do all the trees on Saturday, but there is lots more to get on with on Sunday.
Other news - we now have a shed. A big thank you to Julie, Trisha and Chris who levelled the ground, laid the slabs and put up the shed. This means that we have a place to keep orchard bits and bobs, plus a shelter from the elements. It needs some guttering and a water butt is on the way so we'll have some stored water to keep the trees happy when its dry.
Hope to see you on the orchard soon.
Grafted Trees Planted
All but one of the trees grafted during the workshop in March 2010 have now been planted in the top half of the orchard. We're waiting delivery of the seven trees we ordered from a specialist nursery - which should be dispatched soon. Three of these need planting as bush trees and four will go along the fence and be grown as cordon trees.
We have some duplicate trees (where we grafted more than one of the variety) and these trees are going to be put in pots and offered for sale at our plant sale in May.
Other news: the shed will be going up next weekend, and once this is done there will be tools for people to use stored in the shed.
We have some duplicate trees (where we grafted more than one of the variety) and these trees are going to be put in pots and offered for sale at our plant sale in May.
Other news: the shed will be going up next weekend, and once this is done there will be tools for people to use stored in the shed.
February Work Days
We are having more work days in February to get trees planted. As always, they are weather dependant (frozen ground or pouring rain don't work very well!), so always call to check if in any doubt!
We've planted some of the trees, but there are still more to go in the ground and we really only have February (and early March) to do it.
We'll be there most Saturdays* until the trees are planted - from 11-2 pm. You don't need to commit to the whole time, an hour would be great!
Call 07960 713 018 for more information.
* Not during OTAGS seed potato weekend (19-20th Feb).
We've planted some of the trees, but there are still more to go in the ground and we really only have February (and early March) to do it.
We'll be there most Saturdays* until the trees are planted - from 11-2 pm. You don't need to commit to the whole time, an hour would be great!
Call 07960 713 018 for more information.
* Not during OTAGS seed potato weekend (19-20th Feb).
January Work Days
We are planning to have three work days in January to get trees planted. We will be on the orchard on 22nd and 23rd January between 11 and 2 pm and again on 29th January between 11 and 2 pm.
Laura Mackay is making soup for the 22nd/23rd January sessions, so do come along. If the weather is very poor please give Debbie a call on 07960 713 018.
By way of inspiration, here is an artist's impression of the orchard - we need your help to make it so. Thanks to Julie for doing this great artwork.
Laura Mackay is making soup for the 22nd/23rd January sessions, so do come along. If the weather is very poor please give Debbie a call on 07960 713 018.
By way of inspiration, here is an artist's impression of the orchard - we need your help to make it so. Thanks to Julie for doing this great artwork.
Grafted Tree news
This week, with the help of Peter Nichol from the Northern Fruit Group, the trees that were created at our March grafting workshop were pruned. Mainly this involved pruning out the growth underneath the graft, where the rootstock was growing vigourously. This was also an opportunity to look closely at how the trees were growing and to take the tape off a few to see how the union between the rootstock and the scion had taken.
For first time grafters there was some very good work (said Peter). None of the plum grafts took, but the rootstock has bulked up over the year, offering a better chance of success next year. The other interesting development is that where the grafting failed some of the rootstock has branched out - providing two stems on which to graft. This means we could grow a damson on one side and a greengage on the other (for example). These are called family trees, and are available commercially, but we will be able to choose material from particularly tasty plums or apples available on the allotment site or from other communtity orchards locally to graft.
We have 30 apple trees, some of which are duplicates. The most prolific grafters were Teresa and Natalia who both created 6 trees with Pete creating 5 trees.
For first time grafters there was some very good work (said Peter). None of the plum grafts took, but the rootstock has bulked up over the year, offering a better chance of success next year. The other interesting development is that where the grafting failed some of the rootstock has branched out - providing two stems on which to graft. This means we could grow a damson on one side and a greengage on the other (for example). These are called family trees, and are available commercially, but we will be able to choose material from particularly tasty plums or apples available on the allotment site or from other communtity orchards locally to graft.
We have 30 apple trees, some of which are duplicates. The most prolific grafters were Teresa and Natalia who both created 6 trees with Pete creating 5 trees.
New Path and Fencing
On Friday 17th September OTAGS community orchard volunteers worked with Wates Living Space NW to lay a path and construct fencing for the orchard. We were lucky to have great weather on the day. For more on this see the Partnership Working page and the photos of the various stages of this job.
Thanks to all who took part.
Thanks to all who took part.
Making progress
Our last work day (4th September) was very productive. Many thanks to everyone who came and helped. We had 8 people working hard. A new volunteer, Ayla helped dig up potatoes planted to use the ground while we get ready for planting in the winter. We hope to see her again at another work day (and hope you enjoy those potatoes)!
Our grafted trees are growing well too - so well that their tags needed adjusting, as the girth of their stems had grown so that the tags were squeezing the bark.
We have a community day on Friday 17th September when Wates Living Space will be coming to the community orchard to work with us on laying a path and fencing. The fencing which will be used to plant some of the grafted trees.
For some photos see the Work Days page.
Our grafted trees are growing well too - so well that their tags needed adjusting, as the girth of their stems had grown so that the tags were squeezing the bark.
We have a community day on Friday 17th September when Wates Living Space will be coming to the community orchard to work with us on laying a path and fencing. The fencing which will be used to plant some of the grafted trees.
For some photos see the Work Days page.
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