Dunsden Community Orchard

Next working party planned

2008-04-12T23:32:06+01:00

Saturday 19 April is the proposed date for our next working party. (To be confirmed shortly on this site). Because of recent heavy weather, there are still many trees to plant, so a fun day is promised. The remaining trees have been heeled in on site until then. Come one, come all, from 10am, with refreshments and other facilities available in the vilage hall.

At a recent committee meeting in the Shoulder of Mutton some decisions were taken about tree sponsorship and membership schemes, which it is hoped will be launched in the Autumn. More news later.

We acknowledge with thanks the donation of tree sleeves by Tim Lowden, Manager of Playhatch Garden Centre

Trees in the ground at last

2008-03-21T21:46:05+00:00

As you will have seen from this week's Standard, more than twenty orchard enthusiasts, young and old, had a great day working together at the orchard last Saturday. Holes were prepared and around a dozen trees were planted with 120 8' poles being driven into the ground to make enclosures to protect the trees from deer.

The younger ones had tremendous fun bailing water from the holes dug last week, and the older ones enjoyed barrowing in topsoil, planting and enclosure building. Everyone enjoyed Tim and Judy's flapjacks.

We still have most of the trees to plant (they have just been heeled in so far). Will you join us this Saturday, 22 March anytime from 10am onwards?

Ready, set, plant!

2008-03-14T13:50:05+00:00

We're hoping for a good turn-out this weekend at the Dunsden Community Orchard. 50 trees have been delivered and volunteers for the big planting are very welcome, starting from 10am on Saturday 15 March (tomorrow), continuing on Sunday.

Holes were dug last weekend, but 'soil improvers' need to be barrowed, planting done and deer protection put in place. Please come along for an hour or so (or longer if you can manage it) and join the Dunsden Community Orchard planting party!

We will have access to the village hall for tea and coffee making. Make sure you wear outdoor clothes, including wellingtons. If possible bring a fork, hammer, wire-cutters and (if you can manage it) a wheel-barrow.

All our meetings so far have been most enjoyable. Come along and be part of this exciting local project. Who knows, you may be drinking Dunsden cider sooner than you think!

For more information call David Woodward on 07802 433058.

Auguring well at the orchard

2008-03-14T13:47:40+00:00

Sometime champion ploughman Phil Dyer made light work of digging out 50 holes for tree planting at our first working party this weekend. Using a 24" tractor-powered augur he saved hours of toil, cutting through the heavy soil in no time. A group of enthusiastic volunteers backed him up by barrowing in manure and fixing gate posts.

We need even more helpers next weekend (15 March from 10am). 45 trees are arriving and they must be carefully planted. We hope as many people as possible will join us: no experience required, just turn up for an hour or so, anytime on the day.

Will you join us tomorrow?

2008-03-07T10:32:18+00:00

Putting down roots

Tomorrow, Saturday 8 March is the first of several planned working parties and you are most welcome to join us. Help bring this exciting new project into being!

We have 45 trees on order and expected for the following Saturday so we must prepare the ground for them. Phillimore Farms are kindly donating something to make the ground more suitable for them and Phil Dyer and his mini-tractor-powered augur will kindly be making holes for us. Tim Coulson will be leading the workers.

You will be most welcome to join in, even for only an hour or two, either tomorrow or next Saturday! Refreshments will be available. For information on the day, please call David Woodward on 07802 433058. Wear suitable clothes and footwear.

Adopt-a-tree?

At this week's meeting in the Shoulder of Mutton we discussed a scheme to allow local people to adopt a tree - a great way to commemorate a loved one, or to involve the whole family in learning about traditional fruit-tree growing. Would you be interested? More details later.

Going for a constitutional

We now have a draft constitution, which we hope to adopt shortly. You can also read the minutes of a recent meeting here.

Please forward these details to anyone you think might be interested: see you on the day!

Working party planning meeting

2008-02-25T23:29:10+00:00

If you would like to be 'one of the workers' please come along to the Shoulder of Mutton, Playhatch on Tuesday 4 March from 8pm.

We are holding an informal meeting at which we will be finalising details for the working parties which have been arranged as follows:

the weekend of 8/9 March: preparation/creating a new entrance from Tagg Lane with large gate/postholes
Sunday 16 March: more hole digging & planting(?)
Saturday 22 March: planting (to be confirmed)
Saturday 29 March: planting/follow-up (to be confirmed)

Orchard plan

2008-02-17T12:07:45+00:00

Nick Marks has prepared a splendid orchard plan for us.

Using a combination of apples, cherries and plums, plus the bonus of a pair of decorative mullberries, a quince and a medlar, the design begins with the earliest known apple, Malus Kirgishorun and proceeds via Mrs Phillimore to a set of locally connected and interesting historical varieties.

Four cherries are close to the road, where their blossom will be seen to advantage, and the planting scheme includes cider and perry apples.

A central path which leads to a bench has dwarf trees on either side and it divides the apples from the plums and cherries which are arranged on a different axis.

See the full zoomable PDF file

Community orchard working parties planned

2008-02-11T18:08:03+00:00

Provisional dates were set for our first working parties at a very successful planning meeting on 4 February. They are as follows:

Sunday 16 March: site preparation
Saturday 22 March: first planting day?
Saturday 29 March: follow-up

We are hoping to have at least a dozen volunteers at these sessions when it should be possible to plant some trees- so please turn up if you can! Facilities should be available in the village hall. Further plantings of rare trees will be made of the rarer trees next winter.

A planting scheme has been prepared: these poles represent the likely future heights and placement of the trees. A plan will appear on this site soon.

A gate which will allow vehicles to access the site is also planned for Tagg Lane and grant applications are being invesitgated.

Full minutes of the meeting are here: 08-02-04_orchard.doc

Planning meeting on Feb 4

2008-01-21T21:26:42+00:00

Big progress is expected at our next meeting on Monday February 4th at 8pm in the village hall. Topics so far suggested include:

schedule for development of the orchard
funding and grant applications
responsibilities
planting plan
access
equipment storage

But please come along with your own suggestions. Make a note of the date: 4/2/08!

You may also be interested in a half-day practical fruit tree pruning course aimed at those with trees at home.

It is at Cross Lanes Farm in Mapledurham on Saturday January 26, Tuesday Feb 5 and Saturday Feb 9. Bookings on 0118 972 3167.

Success at orchard launch

2007-12-01T12:15:02+00:00

Pictured are just some of those that enjoyed the official launch of Dunsden community orchard on Sunday 25 November. With assistance from young and old, Lord Phillimore officially planted our first tree, a Blenheim Orange, kindly donated by Dr Barrie Juniper.

The Blenheim Orange is just one of many locally connected apples and cherries we hope to plant in the orchard once the site is accessible. The variety was discovered in 1740 by a cobbler living in Woodstock. He moved it to his garden and 'thousands thronged to gaze on its ruddy ripening burden; then gardeners came in spring-time to select the much coverted scions'. It was subsequently supported by the Duke of Malborough until it became one of the most popular 19th century apples. According to The new book of apples the wood was so strong that it was used to make railway cog wheels.

The launch of the community orchard was celebrated afterwards with mulled cider and mince pies in the village hall. A number of people indicated that they wanted to be part of the planning team and they will be meeting early in January. Decisions to be taken will include: where and how to create entrances to the orchard (living willow arches have been suggested); grant applications; soil quality and preparation; constitution; planting schemes/sponsorship and timings. All supporters will be welcome at the meetings. There are more photos of the launch in the album

It's not too late for you to become involved! Just register your email address on this site or contact David Woodward or any member of Eye & Dunsden Parish Council.