News & Events 2026

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LEICESTERSHIRE
HERITAGE APPLES PROJECT:
NEWS 2026

Events
We are running a grafting course on the third Saturday in Feb 2026, all day, 9.30 for 10.00; £50. If interested please get in touch; email address is diversity(at)suttonelms.org.uk. We have a maximum group size of 8. PLACES STILL AVAILABLE!

Details for the course are here:

If you would like to see photographs from last year's course, click the 2025 link (above) and scroll down to March 2nd.

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, including those in North Leicestershire (not listed here).

EVENTS SUMMARY 2026 for South Leicestershire
Sat 24 Jan Pruning at Cotesbach Hall orchard. (not LHAP)
Sat 31 Jan Pruning at Cotesbach Hall orchard. (not LHAP)
Sat 14 Feb: Pruning the apple trees at Foxton (not LHAP)
Sat 21 Feb: All-day Cosby grafting course, 9.30 for 10.00; ends 3.00-3.30(ish) Cosby Methodist Church. (N & A) £50 pp. 2 PLACES STILL AVAILABLE...
Late Jun: Leic Uni Botanical garden, plant & family day. All day. Date not yet available. (N and A)
Sun 11 Oct: Apple Day & tasting at Donisthorpe orchard, 11.00am - 3pm. (Nigel & Alison)
Cotesbach Hall Apple Day: Date not yet fixed.

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PRUNING DAYS AT COTESBACH HALL
The trees are now well-shaped and just need regular maintenance pruning: removing water shoots, removing congested growth and making sure the tree is well balanced and not allowed to get too tall. An open centre is also advisable when the growth habit allows it.

A group of 9 met on 24 Jan and sorted out the younger orchard; the older trees were tackled by a group of 6 on the following Saturday. Thanks to Sophy for the opportunity to pass on the art of pruning to those who are not familiar with it, and for the excellent lunches; one in the CET Centre and the other in the lovely Stable Yard cafe.

Some pictures are shown below; if you look closely you'll see some 'before' and 'after' shots (pictures 3,4,9,10). Click on the small pictures for a better view.

3 Feb 26

LEICESTERSHIRE APPLES
Alison and I recently did a tasting of virtually all of the Leicestershire Heritage Apples - the first time all of them had fruited in the same year. The link for the video is here:

Apple Tasting 1a, Leicestershire Varieties, 12 Oct 2025

4 Jan 26
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