Pruning:How To Prune Apple Trees Between Autumn And Spring

Not much might be shifting in the gardens, but now is the time for pruning. Gill Franklin of Cross Lanes Fruit Farm is offering half day pruning courses on the following dates:

• Saturday 31 January
• Thursday 5 February
• Saturday 14 February

The sessions start at 9.45 and run until 1 and are for a group of up to 20. Gill covers all of the basics for fruit tree care, including diseases and pruning. The cost is £46 including VAT.  Thanks to the generosity of the Chilterns Conservation Board we may be able to pay your course fees if you are a paid up member of the orchard.

Email David Woodward now for further details.

After an excellent 2008, 2009 promises to be a good year for Dunsden Community Orchard. A working party is planned for late winter (by which time the bitter cold should be a distant memory). Replacement trees will be planted and general maintenance undertaken. Also in 2009, we hope to make progress with new entrance gates, and with getting a new yew tree hedge established on the boundary with Dunsden Green.

Who knows, we may even be able to harvest our first ever apples?

Our quiz night was a huge success.  Around 70 people enjoyed an excellent evening's entertainment, thanks to the hard work of a team led by Beth & John Timms and Judy & Tim Coulson.

After seven rounds of questions it was clear that a needle match was developing between a team which included Lis Ransom, Chairman of Binfield Heath Parish Council and their neighbours: a team which included David Woodward, Chairman of Eye & Dunsden Parish Council. At the end of the evening the Heath Dwellers were rewarded with victory by a narrow margin of just one point. They had further cause for celebration when Lis won the top raffle prize, a night for two at the French Horn Hotel in Sonning. David Pether from the Eye & Dunsden team won the second raffle prize, tickets for a night out at the Mill at Sonning. A magnificent £630 was raised altogether. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of the evening.

It's not too late to join in with the fun of the first ever Dunsden Community Orchard quiz night. The event takes place tomorrow (Saturday) evening at 7.30 in the village hall.

Prepare to pit your wits against the sabre-sharp intellectual elite of Dunsden and Binfield Heath (or should they not appear) enjoy a light supper, some fun brain-teasers and the chance of winning some stunning raffle prizes. Tickets for two for a show at the Mill at Sonning are on offer as well as dinner and an overnight stay for two at the luxurious French Horn Hotel. All this for the bargain price of £7! Eight teams are already taking part. You can either call Beth Timms for tickets now on 0118 946 1987 or just turn up (individually or as a team) on the night. Please forward this to friends who might be interested.

All proceeds to Dunsden Community Orchard. Many thanks to all our generous supporters including Sally Hughes at the Mill at Sonning and Michael Emmanuel at the French Horn Hotel (raffle prize does not include drinks).

Tickets are now on sale for our Grand Quiz Night to be held in Dunsden Village Hall on Saturday 11 October. They cost just £7, which includes a ploughman's supper and apple pudding. Questions will be test your general knowledge rather than being all about apples. Why not ask friends to join you and make up a team? Full details and tickets from Beth Timms on 0118 946 1987.

A recent working party was a great success and the orchard is now looking very spruce after its tidy up. Future working parties will include autumn tree planting and boundary clearance.

Almost 20 people have now sponsored trees and it is hoped to order and attach special commerative tree labels soon. It's not too late if you want to become a member of the orchard or sponsor a tree - just look at the up-to-date plan on this site, and print off and post the application form.

Don't forget we will also be at the Henley Show Ploughing Match and Country Fayre on Sunday 5 October. The event, which is held at Bishopsland RG4 9NR on the Sonning Common road beyond Dunsden, begins at 9.15am with the blessing of the plough. There will be lots to do for all the family, including ploughing demonstrations by shire horses. There will also be ferret racing, a poultry auction, trailer rides, outside trade stands and craft stands in the marquee. Bar and refreshments available all day. For more see the show website.