tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54395139794654335282024-03-19T09:24:05.570+00:00Apple Blossom Day at The Orchard PigJoin us on Sunday 2 May 2010 at West Bradley Orchards, West Bradley, near Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 8LT, for a celebration of orchards, wildlife and apples. We'll be open all day from 10.30 - 5.00Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-9025694289244681242010-04-27T12:41:00.001+01:002010-04-28T07:08:29.684+01:00BBC Radio Somerset Wednesday 28 April<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do listen in to BBC Radio Somerset on the morning of Wednesday 28 April. Our friend Rachel Brewer, the pommelier at the National Trust's Barrington Court property, will be speaking at 7.15, and then at 8.15 our very own Neil Macdonald will be talking about our orchards and Apple Blossom Day.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIY27QuS_vwAhx9m-KaDagz4xwlFnYX5w9EXrilD5B8mBMhyphenhyphenkl6cuTK5Bdknyzkw_VyJVn-Wyt1WREwD21VBpYsjtqDSbqsuU6ID3Kp7KTZr3crh-Y2Jwoat9-ZwUuop_5JQMPIUL9_4/s1600/HTE44847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIY27QuS_vwAhx9m-KaDagz4xwlFnYX5w9EXrilD5B8mBMhyphenhyphenkl6cuTK5Bdknyzkw_VyJVn-Wyt1WREwD21VBpYsjtqDSbqsuU6ID3Kp7KTZr3crh-Y2Jwoat9-ZwUuop_5JQMPIUL9_4/s320/HTE44847.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Don't miss it!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-10943194781972529362010-04-27T11:11:00.002+01:002010-04-27T11:11:44.929+01:00Get well soon, Chris<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We've just heard that Chris at Pennard Plants is unwell and they won't be able to attend Apple Blossom Day. We wish you a speedy recovery Chris.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-49779787184254605012010-04-14T14:59:00.000+01:002010-04-14T14:59:37.439+01:00The Orchard Pig wins at the Taste of Somerset Awards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYA3MQj5k43eGS-H1I3AqpO3uhyNkx4tNMuvQGnim1tvlCnDwHlIK4KvbkKo3LpyGsLEWcfeG_o49vGxTm48iApV1mw3bAkatXWY9zv4EEFNlagKOWcDcVhrPUh44dt3BsqbIskkkuAk/s1600/pigs+and+apples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYA3MQj5k43eGS-H1I3AqpO3uhyNkx4tNMuvQGnim1tvlCnDwHlIK4KvbkKo3LpyGsLEWcfeG_o49vGxTm48iApV1mw3bAkatXWY9zv4EEFNlagKOWcDcVhrPUh44dt3BsqbIskkkuAk/s320/pigs+and+apples.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">NEWSFLASH!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Last night, at the Taste of Somerset awards, held at The Mill on the Brue in Bruton, The Orchard Pig trotted off with the award for the Best Somerset Drinks Producer! We were in stiff competition with some of the county's best producers so we are doubly pleased. The awards nominations all come from readers of the Blackmore Vale publications so we offer a huge thank you to all the people who said they liked our drinks enough for us to win. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-1275017290081428152010-04-14T13:09:00.000+01:002010-04-14T13:09:03.922+01:00Mendip Moments ice cream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mendipmoments.co.uk/images/ice%20cream%20tub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.mendipmoments.co.uk/images/ice%20cream%20tub.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Perhaps Sunday 2 May will be a really hot and sunny day, in which case ice cream will definitely be on the menu at Apple Blossom Day!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mendip Moments use their own milk and cream from their pedigree dairy herd of Holstein cows to make their indulgent ice cream.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Their delicious flavours include </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Vanilla Bean</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Peppermint with Dark Chocolate</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Clotted Cream and Honeycomb</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mascarpone, Fig and Honey</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Stem Ginger </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Somerset Strawberries and Clotted Cream </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Somerset Raspberries and Greek Yogurt</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lemon Curd</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Which one will you go for?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Find out more at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="http://www.mendipmoments.co.uk/index.php">http://www.mendipmoments.co.uk/index.php</a></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-57128765539567784842010-04-13T18:02:00.000+01:002010-04-13T18:02:57.086+01:00Pennard Plants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pennardplants.com/pictures/veggarden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.pennardplants.com/pictures/veggarden.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our near neighbours Pennard Plants are coming to Apple Blossom Day for the first time this year. We are very excited that we have been able to persuade them to take part. Pennard Plants is in a beautiful walled garden at East Pennard, Somerset. They specialise in fantastic agapanthus plants, a gorgeous native of South Africa that is aclimatising happily here as it gets a bit warmer.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have a big pot with the evergreen variety Bluety which I think has come through the winter unscathed. Can't wait to see the wonderful flower spikes with their bright blue heads.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For more see <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="http://www.pennardplants.com/">http://www.pennardplants.com/</a></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pennard Plants also has a terrific collection of heritage seeds, lots of old varieties that are not available anywhere else.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-40269832351149718092010-04-12T13:33:00.001+01:002010-04-12T13:34:52.035+01:00Fergus the Tractor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fergusandfriends.com/topnav.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="40" src="http://www.fergusandfriends.com/topnav.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Orchard Pig is delighted to welcome author Steve Burnside to Apple Blossom Day. Steve has written ten delightful children's books about Fergus the tractor, Farmer Pete and all their friends. He will be at West Bradley Orchards, with his tractor, to answer questions from all his many fans!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Find out more at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="http://www.fergusandfriends.com/">www.fergusandfriends.com</a></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-8406098130754298862010-04-08T14:01:00.000+01:002010-04-08T14:01:32.950+01:00Pears in bud<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4z3WUR459fXn4uxDCOU4nfvVPjLlPuTDC-ph2Vm-jD9h4DGaHPiAzJfnNtg6kPGsZCnLwCQFm8LqwNIDaZberTu8KnvajizZiZNtCiH41KVlfRzm9Bj2fvyiGpz03o0oRAaawkVMgQbw/s1600/DSCF5016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4z3WUR459fXn4uxDCOU4nfvVPjLlPuTDC-ph2Vm-jD9h4DGaHPiAzJfnNtg6kPGsZCnLwCQFm8LqwNIDaZberTu8KnvajizZiZNtCiH41KVlfRzm9Bj2fvyiGpz03o0oRAaawkVMgQbw/s320/DSCF5016.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The pear trees are the first in the orchard to show their blossom. As the weather warms up we can see the buds just starting to burst, to be followed by the white blossom of the pear tree. Here at West Bradley we grow four different kinds of pear - Conference, Comice, Concorde and Beth. We expect warm sunshine over the next few days and in no time at all the whole orchard will start to twinkle with little starbursts of blossom.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-90290052857543012062010-03-10T15:44:00.001+00:002010-03-10T15:45:41.009+00:00Apple Blossom Day - participants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfohIHclz-jX41_18xtXuzR6bZB7MBrh4JeUZD2iy__ZL6HJ2VbzUXxAwX5zFt-6O7QmpLLeHNCO4HzPPMGWaFb-2RRnGEk9xKdRbesjKBdRlKCnl2EALo32UfuSXEgQecMX4v2XuOtQ/s1600-h/DSCF1771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfohIHclz-jX41_18xtXuzR6bZB7MBrh4JeUZD2iy__ZL6HJ2VbzUXxAwX5zFt-6O7QmpLLeHNCO4HzPPMGWaFb-2RRnGEk9xKdRbesjKBdRlKCnl2EALo32UfuSXEgQecMX4v2XuOtQ/s320/DSCF1771.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We have just got confirmation of<span id="goog_1268233818569"></span><span id="goog_1268233818570"></span> the producers who will be coming to our Apple Blossom Day event on Sunday May 2, and we are starting to get organised for the day.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Famous orchard people Liz Copas and Bob Chaplin will be with us to guide the orchard tours. We will have tractor rides for everybody (Dads always want to go round twice!), a cider and apple juice bar, pig roast for the hungry, followed by cream teas for the greedy, and a Treasure Trail for all the family.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Pennard Plants will be there with seeds and plants, and Ashridge Trees with trees. Ice creams from Mendip Moments, bees and honey from Stuart Holden of Somerset Bee Keepers, and a plant stall and a cake stall from West Bradley Church.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More to be confirmed as we get details.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's starting to shape up quite nicely!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-15729550967051822462010-03-07T19:06:00.003+00:002010-03-07T19:25:18.176+00:00Apple tree planting time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aKAyARIKwu5G7fVZlZVogA9q9RWSVv2Zkeua90dLpEH7zUDmxqP-xJmxYL4ng5vkYJnc_FJtfIMVQLhLw7F8Xpb3jfPAI3T9Q5gpesvygNrdmOzFO22LlPUTBT3zxMxD4o8vCQgABD0/s1600-h/DSCF1534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aKAyARIKwu5G7fVZlZVogA9q9RWSVv2Zkeua90dLpEH7zUDmxqP-xJmxYL4ng5vkYJnc_FJtfIMVQLhLw7F8Xpb3jfPAI3T9Q5gpesvygNrdmOzFO22LlPUTBT3zxMxD4o8vCQgABD0/s320/DSCF1534.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The UK is sitting under an area of high pressure and we have seen a lot of something rather unusual, namely the SUN!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">These cold still days with cloudless blue skies are a welcome change after the last few soggy months and the ground has at last had a chance to dry out. There's no point in planting trees into wet ground because the sides of the hole set like concrete and the poor little tree's roots have no chance.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We are planting lots of an apple called Falstaff and some more of another variety called Red Windsor. The maiden trees have been sitting with their roots damp but wrapped in straw since we got them way back in January and they can't wait to get into the ground. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The earth is really friable and crumbly and in great condition to receive the young trees and give them the best start in life. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If the weather holds we should have them all in in the next few days.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-15264520955552063842010-03-02T18:08:00.000+00:002010-03-02T18:08:19.795+00:00Somerset Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9dzkAMenc5uIQnWiUWI7EK3QxOKnHwN6gBWM1qNAgGZUwmomSP5TSk4q3xMqKM-v2eS2Z1fH_7eHvhECTaF-fl0dn2JiGgKJthp1iil56xoibc14gznYgG124tBU7sLoQGG5DcjzQG4/s1600-h/DSCF1510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9dzkAMenc5uIQnWiUWI7EK3QxOKnHwN6gBWM1qNAgGZUwmomSP5TSk4q3xMqKM-v2eS2Z1fH_7eHvhECTaF-fl0dn2JiGgKJthp1iil56xoibc14gznYgG124tBU7sLoQGG5DcjzQG4/s320/DSCF1510.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We are featured in this month's issue of Somerset Life!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Four pages with some beautiful photographs and an interview with Neil about pruning.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-74395948076196850832010-02-26T20:47:00.002+00:002010-02-26T20:47:42.021+00:00Just for TechnoratiTHAERMX5FZ35Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-40916668326794221212010-02-26T16:40:00.001+00:002010-02-26T16:41:36.418+00:00Snowdrops and snowstorms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSGJY1UXzpdOrhqCD9xjTqky-vX0WWR47i934TCLdsJBuNjpRpSXJ9adhpmrH3Av5jJ7ZY59DgL5PeJ3AJixL3GDea8FAtrA1PiR_8PqnpLdNLdNSTmQi6aEbHaQDDqNGOB65052L2C8/s1600-h/DSCF1473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZbfdLOFchAsz7YL7QuZnquS4r98lNJVL-TBM2d23dNln98AR_zxE3hFC3Izxmby0gWkALVOBI4F-PwJFj5Z-4M_mtYkZHyBrCGCuwl9_OVGiQGtKLgGQ7_IWU2HrjMZS8v0EYqaaTIM/s1600-h/DSCF1443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZbfdLOFchAsz7YL7QuZnquS4r98lNJVL-TBM2d23dNln98AR_zxE3hFC3Izxmby0gWkALVOBI4F-PwJFj5Z-4M_mtYkZHyBrCGCuwl9_OVGiQGtKLgGQ7_IWU2HrjMZS8v0EYqaaTIM/s320/DSCF1443.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The snowdrops along the banks of the stream are bravely nodding their heads, a signal that spring is round the corner. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the last week we've had all sorts of weather thrown at us - snow, sleet, rain and brilliant sunshine. We're just hoping that the good weather lasts and we have fewer downpours, because we have several thousand trees to plant.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The trees will go in as maidens, (just a big twig really) or feather maidens (a big twig with some feathery branchlets) and what is most important is that the soil conditions are right. If the ground is too wet the sides of the hole get smeared as it is dug, then the soil sets like concrete around the hole and the little tree's roots can't get through it.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Far better to wait until the soil conditions are right for planting, which may be any time in March, or even into April if the weather gets bad.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-20777534166716376322010-02-08T11:07:00.003+00:002010-02-10T10:40:30.483+00:00Be brave!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfOOftLyFznUckH-fT8Zcu7Ym0t06oAGAE5wYfYmp1T5mlCKTYqO1jXC6diNqaU4_T-Yi6wShaTRTM7lmIzPW33Z8bSFZrNiAtj9CKiQODpQPmQaSowUwbJD95ydxMGuo5zU5n90xgQ8/s1600-h/DSCF1229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfOOftLyFznUckH-fT8Zcu7Ym0t06oAGAE5wYfYmp1T5mlCKTYqO1jXC6diNqaU4_T-Yi6wShaTRTM7lmIzPW33Z8bSFZrNiAtj9CKiQODpQPmQaSowUwbJD95ydxMGuo5zU5n90xgQ8/s320/DSCF1229.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We prune the apple trees to take out dead wood, to let more light into the branches and to encourage the tree to put its strength into making a shapely tree and robust fruiting branches. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You can remove up to 25% of the fruiting wood, the wood that bears buds, in any one year. Leave it lying on the ground and you will see that it's quite a lot. And dead wood doesn't count as part of your 25%, so you can take that out for free.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Take the branch right back to the trunk; you will see a wrinkle where the branch joins the trunk and you make the cut as close to that as possible on the branch side. The tree will naturally scar over to seal the cut.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKpq5X8XvlM4iTOCknmU63Atcgbj_RHHpEbeAG1YqToJCJaJfSm2jLZmeE5yanzlfs5w4U5E4LlKBcJzAQbtAb8NpVb13_15OOQHsv2sWh9is8ax7mA0xL-dXf3ykCu2LFydqgRe3P8s/s1600-h/DSCF1247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKpq5X8XvlM4iTOCknmU63Atcgbj_RHHpEbeAG1YqToJCJaJfSm2jLZmeE5yanzlfs5w4U5E4LlKBcJzAQbtAb8NpVb13_15OOQHsv2sWh9is8ax7mA0xL-dXf3ykCu2LFydqgRe3P8s/s200/DSCF1247.JPG" width="200" /></a>What you end up with is a tree with a root system that is working hard to put the energy into the places that you need it, the places where your best fruit will form.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Be brave! Don't use secateurs except on very young trees. Get in there with a saw and make the least cuts for the maximum effect. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And when you have taken out your 25% </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">walk away</b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">...no going back and fiddling!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-41397365033777482092010-02-06T13:28:00.001+00:002010-02-10T10:39:51.600+00:00Mistletoe...<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">is not our favourite thing in the orchard!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UePYkAf7s-3Sq3GVOFk3rNot5Ebxs9vRpr6funwIU5cD7REMY2-WpetypoMSKNoz1v8lB0bAkyVtoQ-bTo0NLwfyoTAFu2ewzwIvGvgFHz28WNpkqdArkP4G0m0WPreCQuyKLh-UQmk/s1600-h/DSCF1426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UePYkAf7s-3Sq3GVOFk3rNot5Ebxs9vRpr6funwIU5cD7REMY2-WpetypoMSKNoz1v8lB0bAkyVtoQ-bTo0NLwfyoTAFu2ewzwIvGvgFHz28WNpkqdArkP4G0m0WPreCQuyKLh-UQmk/s320/DSCF1426.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The seeds</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">of this pretty but parasitic plant are spread by birds and it quickly saps all the strength from apple trees. In order to remove it you have to completely remove the branch, right back to the trunk. If you look at your tree and think "if I remove all the mistletoe I will have no tree left" then you've got yourself a mistletoe tree, not an apple tree.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mind you, they make good wildlife habitats for some special moths and insects, but you can say good bye to the apples, so it's important to keep it under control.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-511609575801402722010-02-05T09:53:00.001+00:002010-02-10T10:39:20.328+00:00Pruning<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE4zn1kE1k_6xMDYnjPXqOen6ep371zQNW4GvHHu9XdscXD-vnTxOdw1gPQWQf0IpF7EqQIJnEYi7XD_7nRtYGGZXfJOFMXtjIwJ-wvEfBvIeLLO2FacQghyKHp0nGGtpoiNkihZhXWE/s1600-h/DSCF1319.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434697512213572354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE4zn1kE1k_6xMDYnjPXqOen6ep371zQNW4GvHHu9XdscXD-vnTxOdw1gPQWQf0IpF7EqQIJnEYi7XD_7nRtYGGZXfJOFMXtjIwJ-wvEfBvIeLLO2FacQghyKHp0nGGtpoiNkihZhXWE/s320/DSCF1319.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Any time between November and April is good for pruning the trees, but January/February are the best months. Best for the trees maybe, but pretty unwelcoming for the pruners!<br />
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We have been working with The National Trust on their Orchard Project, showing their wardens in the South West how to restore old trees and neglected orchards.<br />
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Neil Macdonald manages all our orchards, and another 800 acres in the area. He is passionate about the trees, and about the biodiversity they promote. Did you know that an orchard has TEN times the diversity of a plain green field?<br />
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439513979465433528.post-89107075406367725412010-02-03T16:02:00.001+00:002010-02-10T10:38:16.426+00:00A foggy day in the orchard<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPfFwFbR-CdUzy199HIippEg6q67jzv7okP1wwzXPH1V-APsRCGyEeb8gpCPNNWEDQPnRSnxxzmTVZ58Vn48kfjyNR0zGTwOffy4-pxxnAHWIX0_XN5OJxxtw04NZEGuERrPCkUX29PM/s1600-h/DSCF1381.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434049900290383186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPfFwFbR-CdUzy199HIippEg6q67jzv7okP1wwzXPH1V-APsRCGyEeb8gpCPNNWEDQPnRSnxxzmTVZ58Vn48kfjyNR0zGTwOffy4-pxxnAHWIX0_XN5OJxxtw04NZEGuERrPCkUX29PM/s320/DSCF1381.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It's the beginning of February and May time seems a long way off! Today in the orchards the trees were wreathed in fog all day, but if you look at the branches you can see the buds where first the blossom and then the fruit will form. Already it looks like it will be a good year. We are all coming out of hibernation and beginning to make plans for our big celebration on Sunday 2 May - the very start of summer.<br />
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0