News & Events 2025

..... ..... .....

LEICESTERSHIRE
HERITAGE APPLES PROJECT:
NEWS 2025

Events
We are running a grafting course on the third Saturday in Feb 2025, all day, 9.30 for 10.00; £48. If interested please get in touch; email address is diversity(at)suttonelms.org.uk. We have a group size of 8; one place left.
Venue is Cosby Methodist Church, Leicestershire LE9 1RN.

IN THE ORCHARD
A more comprehensive guide to what we offer is on Mel Wilson's LHAP website 'In the Orchard', where a list of our LHAP workshops and talks can be found.

EVENTS 2025
Sat 18 Jan Pruning Day, Cotesbach Hall. 10am-1pm. (not an LHAP event).
Sat 18 Jan Pruning Course, Amber Valley Vineyard (Mel Wilson)
Sat 8 Feb Pruning Day round 2, Cotesbach Hall, 10am - 1 pm, (not LHAP)
Sat 15 Feb: all-day Cosby grafting course, 9.30 for 10.00; usually ends 3.00-3.30(ish) Cosby Methodist Church. Taking bookings. £48 pp. One place left.
Sat 11 Oct, Cosby Apple Day, all day. Times t.b.c.
Sun 12 Oct, Apple Day, apple tasting at Donisthorpe orchard, 11.00am - 3pm.
Mon 27 Oct; 2.00 for 2.30: Talk on LHAP to S.Wigston Flower/Gdn Club Soc., Sal. Army Hall, as last year.
-------------------------------------

PRUNING COURSE, AMBER VALLEY VINEYARD, 18 Jan 25
On 18/1 Amber Valley Vineyard hosted a LHAP hands-on pruning course aimed at educating both beginner and experienced gardeners and vineyard workers about the essential practice of pruning. The session focused on the significance of pruning in maintaining plant health, encouraging better yields, and enhancing the overall aesthetics of the vineyard.

Reasons for Pruning
The course began with a discussion of the reasons why pruning is essential. Participants learned that pruning helps manage the shape and size of plants, removes dead or diseased wood, and promotes healthier growth by allowing better airflow and sunlight penetration. The importance of pruning for apples was particularly emphasized, explaining how it can influence both the quantity and quality of the harvest.

Participant Needs and Objectives
Each participant was invited to share their reasons for attending the course, as well as their specific needs and areas of interest. Some were looking to improve their skills for personal gardening, while others were orchard workers eager to hone their knowledge for professional purposes. This dialogue helped tailor the session to address the diverse needs of the group, ensuring that everyone left with practical insights they could apply to their own pruning activities.

Hands-On Demonstrations
The group then moved on to the practical portion of the course, where our experienced instructors demonstrated various pruning techniques on apple trees. The demonstrations covered key aspects of pruning, including how to identify the best areas to cut, the tools to use, and the timing for each type of pruning. Participants were encouraged to ask questions as the demonstrations took place to ensure a clear understanding of the methods.

Reflection and Discussion
After the demonstrations, participants were invited to share their thoughts and reflections on what they had just observed. They discussed why certain techniques were preferred over others and how these methods could be adapted to suit different trees, needs or situations. This open dialogue allowed everyone to voice their concerns, ask further questions, and benefit from the collective wisdom of the group.

Practical Experience
To wrap up the day, participants were given the opportunity to try their hand at pruning on other trees around the orchard. Guided by the instructors, they were able to apply what they had learned in real-time, practicing their new skills on different varieties of plants. This hands-on experience helped reinforce the concepts covered during the course and gave participants the confidence to carry out pruning tasks independently.

Overall, the pruning course at Amber Valley Vineyard was a valuable opportunity for participants to enhance their pruning knowledge and skills, whether for personal or professional use. By the end of the day, everyone walked away with a deeper understanding of how to care for their plants effectively, equipped with the tools and confidence to prune successfully.

Mel

20 Jan 25

ORCHARD PRUNING SESSION, COTESBACH HALL, 18 Jan 25
Another informal pruning day tidying up the apple trees at Cotesbach. We had quite a small group for what turned out to be the first of two sessions; there will be a follow-up in about a fortnight. Many thanks to everyone who helped. We worked mainly on a section of the younger trees; canker seems to have been a bit more severe this year. Kidd's Orange needed plenty of attention with a knife, and there was also some on the Ellison's Orange, which is usually fairly immune. The excess rain last year can't have helped.

The orchard has some interesting trees - Leicestershire varities (Prince Charles, Annie Elizabeth, Langton Nonesuch), heritage varieties (Court de Wick, Ribston, Kidd's Orange, Ellison's, Laxton's Fortune), along with pears, plums, a medlar and a very old Martin's Custard. The trees are now well-shaped and we carried out maintenance pruning only. (Although I was involved as a volunteer, this was not a LHAP event - ND)

Many thanks to Sophy for an enjoyable day and for preparing a delicious lunch.

I've put a few snaps below. Click on the thumbnails for bigger pictures.

... ...
...

20 Jan 25

Back to top