The Orchard Project has some exciting news for orchard enthusiasts and horticulturalists alike! We are launching a series of weekend-long courses in London that offer in-depth training on orchard planting and maintenance. Perfect for the budding orchardist, they will equip participants with the skills to create productive and resilient orchards.
These courses are designed to bridge the gap between our one-day training sessions (which can be found on our Events page) and our accredited twelve-day Certificate in Community Orcharding (CICO), which runs over the course of a year. A weekend course allows more time to gain practical skills in the orchard and learn theory in the classroom. These courses are open both to beginners or intermediate orchardists, and they’ll provide more in-depth knowledge and cover more content than our one-day courses.
The series begins with “Orchard Foundations” (22nd – 23rd February), covering all the basics including pruning, mulching, tree identification & physiology, and orchard care plans. Next up is “Resilient and Healthy Orchards” (16th – 17th May), which will teach students to combat pests and disease as well as design orchards that are resilient to weather and climate change. The final weekend course is “Orchard Survey and Design” (18th – 19th July), where students will learn about site survey, plant identification, and design considerations.
Participants can attend just one weekend if they choose, but those who attend two or three of the courses will qualify for a discount price (subject to availability).
For more information, see the Events page on our website or the links above.