Creation & Maintenance of Orchards
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
*** |
|---|
|
*** |
Introduction
This one day ‘hands-on’ course will give you confidence and expertise in planting and pruning your own fruit trees. We guide you through choosing varieties and caring for your trees and their surroundings. The practical sessions will be a chance to see ‘best practice’ in planting trees and to try skilled pruning of small and large trees. We have a wide range of fruit trees both large and small for you to practice your skills on, including medlar, pear, apple, plum, greengage, cherry and crab apple. There will be ample opportunity to answer ‘fruity’ questions.
The Course
The tutor will guide you through some theory of fruit tree care and will demonstrate planting techniques & supervise you as you prune for yourself. Our aim is to get you started, or maybe back on course, with the basics of winter pruning, and more in tune with what your tree would like from life in your garden. We will give some handy tips on tools and some sensible safety guidance.
Part 1: “Choices, choices!” Why do I want a fruit tree? Where can I put it? What shall I choose? Hopefully this introduction will get you asking more questions,which we will answer.
Part 2: “Good Planting Pays Dividends” The basics of planting a tree and protecting it from damage. You will be provided with a tree and equipment to plant out and then we will review our handiwork.
Part 3: “Pruning- Less-is-Best” The tutor will give you some straightforward guidance into good pruning practice and some consideration of special techniques, eg. Trained fruit. There will follow a substantial session of pruning of trees on the farm.
Clothing & Equipment: Please wear ‘sensible gardening clothes’, waterproof footwear and coat. Some professional pruning equipment will be available for loan but bring your own if you have some.
Price: £80 per person (adults only), including refreshments & a home-cooked farmhouse lunch of local delicacies and our own produce.
Time: 10am– 4pm
Maximum No. of Students: 8
Location: Mumbleys Farmhouse, Sweetwater Lane, Mumbleys, South Glos BS35 3JY (Tel 01454 415296)
The lecturer is Graham White ('Mr Fruit')