If you’re interested in Gloucestershire’s apples and orchards, come along to Toddington Village Hall (GL54 5DP) on Saturday 16th March, from 10:00 to 14:00. It’s an event organised by the Gloucestershire Orchard Trust. Learn about the DNA testing of Gloucestershire’s unique apple varieties, about Mistletoe and it’s place in traditional orchards (both good and not-so-good), about some fruit exchange projects happening in Gloucestershire.
There’ll be cake, as well …
Lovely, but hard work …
Read MoreOur friendly, productive tree …
Read MoreThe beauty of orchards is, in part, the combination of the regular and the random. The trees are - at least they should be - planted in some kind of identifiable pattern, properly spaced to allow each tree to develop and to utilise the available space effectively. The trees themselves grow into all sorts of contorted shapes, natural sculptures blessed by sun and buffeted by wind and rain, with no arrow-straight elements to them.
An apparently healthy mature apple tree with an hollow trunk, this in an orchard in Tirley, Gloucestershire. The important thing is that xylem and phloem still exist and function in the remaining wood and bark, keeping the old thing going. And yes, more new trees in the background ...36 planted and guarded in 3 adjoining orchards.
