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Dunsden Community Orchard - Page 7

  • Your help needed at the orchard this weekend

    We hope you will be able to join us at a short working party of an hour or so from 2.30pm at the orchard on Sunday 14 September this weekend. There have been rumours of cider rations for the (older) workers.

    Tasks include weeding around the trees (a light task which children should be able to enjoy - we need to do this so that the trees continue to grow properly) and also some scrub and bramble clearance around the edge of the site (this is for grown-ups, and we have the promise of some machinery to help).

    A good chance to check up on how the orchard has been progressing! Don't forget we will also be at the Henley Show Ploughing Match on Sunday 5 October. 

  • Orchard amid the flowers

    597c4a1365e6dd28bffcd2b5860fb809.jpg"Orchard? I didn't know there was an orchard at Dunsden!" was the word from quite a few visitors to our very successful stall at the Binfeld Heath Flower Show this weekend. It was good to be able to spread the word - 100 leaflets were taken away by potential new members, and around half a dozen people said they would like to sponsor a tree. Once we have completed forms, certificates will be despatched and commemorative tree labels ordered.
    Our new polo shirts, which are embroidered with the orchard logo, were also all sold, and thanks to the generosity of sponsor Gareth at Supergraphics we now have a new table banner for future events. Thanks to everyone who helped make the day a success. We look forward to seeing people at our next event, the working party on Sunday 14 September.

  • Co-op comes up trumps

    Thanks to the Co-op Community Fund we have received a grant of £500 to put towards the cost of planting trees and a wooden bench which it is hoped will be the focal point of the walkway through our orchard. The Fund provided a plaque which we hope to fix to the orchard gateway at our next working party, which is planned for Sunday 14 September at 2.30pm. To encourage a good turnout on the day (when we will mainly be weeding around the trees), cider will be provided. Please put the date in your diary now and come along and enjoy an hour's enjoyable work with other local people.

    A reminder that you will find us at Binfield Heath Flower Show at Holmwood this Saturday from 2pm. There will be some early apples to taste and we will be able to answer your questions about the orchard. 

    We will soon have some attractive embroidered polo shirts for orchard supporters. These are available at £10 each for members or £12.50 for non-members: a good reason to sign up for membership if you have not done so already. Just download the leaflet and post off the form to set-up an annual £5 or £10 standing order. Your support is much appreciated. 

    A fund-raising quiz night is also planned, thanks to the generosity of Beth Timms, who has been organising these popular evenings for some time. The evening starts at 7 for 7.30pm in Dunsden Village Hall on Saturday October 11th. A light supper and an entertaining evening is promised, all for under £10! Tickets from Beth Timms

     

  • The joys of Apple Day

    Apple Day this year is on October 21st. Although our orchard is not yet sufficiently well-establshed to host its own Apple Day, you can get an idea of the kind of things that are possible at such an event by following this link.

    Shropshire Apple Trust in Ironbridge sells its own design of apple presses, and expects to make over 200 gallons of apple juice at event that is enjoyed by several hundred people.

    Volunteers from Dunsden community orchard will at the Binfield Heath Flower Show on Saturday 23 August and at the Henley Show Ploughing Match in Dunsden on 5 October so we look forward to seeing you then.

  • Visit Garden Organic, Ryton

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    Binfield Heath Allotment Group have organised this visit and are looking for other interested parties to help fill the coach on Saturday, 9th August!

    Garden Organic Ryton is an internationally famous tourist attraction comprising ten acres of display gardens managed entirely organically and all aspects of domestic horticulture are on show, including composting, pest and disease control, fruit and vegetable production, herbs, roses, lawns, shrubberies and herbaceous plantings.
    The 10 acre garden contains a wide variety of planting and has over 30 individual gardens in the beautifully landscaped grounds including a Rose Garden, Cooks Garden, Paradise Garden and RSPB Wildlife Garden. 

    The new Vegetable Way and Vegetable Inspirations gardens show just how easy it is to grow vegetables at home. There are lots of unusual ideas to try out - including growing vegetables in containers and amongst your ornamental border. The Flowers for Pleasure Garden is also new and demonstrates how to grow good quality flowers for cutting and drying at home.
    There is also an award-winning organic shop, an interactive visitor experience – the Vegetable Kingdom, and the charity’s world-renowned Heritage Seed Library, which preserves over 800 varieties of vegetable under threat of extinction.

    The gardens are accessible by wheelchair and mobility scooters are available if booked in advance. The Restaurant at Garden Organic Ryton was voted as Best Organic Restaurant 2007.  There is also an organic café and visitors are also welcome to picnic in the garden.

    Tickets cost £20 with a £5 reduction for Garden Organic and RHS members.  There is also a reduction for children.  Tickets are available from Binfield Heath Stores or from Beth Timms on 01189 461987 or beth.timms[at]btinternet.com

    We plan to leave Binfield Heath at 9am returning at approximately 5.30pm (other local pick-ups can be arranged as necessary).