At first glance it looks like any other community orchard setting – people are focused on a pruning task and are chatting under the summer sun – but it’s actually very different. This is Thorn Cross’ 160 fruit tree orchard, set in the extensive grounds of the open prison in Cheshire. I recently joined our […]
pruning
A wee Scottish orchard odyssey
My job involves co-ordinating aftercare for our newly planted orchards. I recently went to Scotland to attend our Orchard Gathering in Glasgow and used it as an opportunity to visit as many of the orchards as possible – a plum job! This is a round-up of my trip. Linkes Food Forest, Glasgow First up was […]
Pruning with prisoners
“The lads thought chives only came in Pringles crisps!” says John, as we share a hearty lunch of curried lentil soup, chips and cheese rolls, – the same food the prisoners will be tucking into in another building nearby. John works at Thorn Cross (HMP) prison in Cheshire. He’s been supporting the prison’s horticultural training […]
Diary of a CICO student
Our Certificate in Community Orcharding (CICO) is the UK’s first and only accredited course in community orchards. One of our committed students, Tamasin, has kindly shared her CICO journey with us below. We currently have a course open for registration in South-west London, if you’re considering signing up to the course (info here), her reflections […]
Summer Orchard Pruning
Over the last two years we have been lucky enough to learn from two orchard experts the arts of Summer Pruning. Jim Arbury at RHS Wisley let us try our secateurs on their magnificent trained pears last year and this past week, Bob Lever ran a workshop for us at Fryent Country Park in Brent.
Guard reduction: freeing your fruit trees
This is an instructional blog about how our partner community groups can reduce their tree guard height, allowing the fruit trees to spread their limbs nice and wide for good shape.