Saturday 28 March
Free Wheel North Templeton Street Glasgow G40 1AT
About this Event
This 2 part workshop will give you the skills to prune young trees then give you a good grounding in the theory and practice of looking after the soil to make sure you have a healthy orchard ecosystem.
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SATURDAY 28th March – 10am – 3pm
10 – 12 Pruning workshop. Learn how to shape trees for best fruiting and best health
12 – 1 Lunch
1 – 3 Soil health workshop. Learn the basics of soil science and how to use holistic methods to encourage a healthy soil full of beneficial microbes, including use of organic fertilising materials, beneficial plants to plant and more.
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YOUR TRAINERS:
The workshop will be led by our London-based orchard expert Lewis McNeill. Lewis has been teaching practical orchard skills and theory for a decade at orchards all across the UK. Lewis is a favourite here in Glasgow, and he has been coming up annually in March for the last four years. Lewis brings a real insight into the biology behind the practice, so that as you learn not just what to do but why, and how the tree will react to the treatment that you give it.
Fergus has been working on community orchards for the last 7 years, working alongside Scotland’s foremost orchard experts as well as attending regular orchard practitioner training events across the UK.
Under their supervision and guidance you’ll quickly learn to assess the trees and make cuts.
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THE VENUE
Glasgow Green Community Orchard is a unique orchard planted in the grounds of cycling charity Free Wheel North., which is set up to provide cycling experience for individuals and groups who might not otherwise be able to cycle. The orchard consists of a mix of apple, pear, plum, cherry, hazel and soft fruits including raspberry, blackcurrant, redcurrant and tayberry. The orchard is planted in amongst the looping tracks of the cycle paths and six days a week a host of cyclists descends on the place, zooming round the tracks on all shapes and sizes of pedalled vehicle – and the seventh day a week the site is free for orchard activities like this workshop.
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Hot drinks, refreshments and lunch will be provided.
This pay-as-you-feel workshop is provided to our network of orchard leaders across Greater Glasgow and the general public. Please be generous as this continues our work of planting and restoring community orchards across the UK.
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Please wear appropriate clothing as we’ll still make progress in light rain/drizzle and/or cold.
All tools and instruction will be provided although feel free to bring a favourite pair of sharp secateurs.
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How to get there
The orchard is here, very near the People’s Palace at the north end of Glasgow Green, next to the adventure playground.
Please arrive 9.45 for 10 start.
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This event is funded by the MacRobert Trust