Orchard Workshop - Formative Pruning

General Information:

The Severn Treescapes: Dead Wood Society has created a series of workshops to increase confidence among landowners to plant and look after traditional orchards and fruit trees. This workshop is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Being a dual purpose land use, orchards can provide a vertical farming element to traditional farming and ultimately provide a new income from the fruit, as well as providing a fabulous habitat for a huge range of wildlife and beneficial insects. This series of workshops looks to provide information, education and confidence to enable participants to manage their orchards successfully.

Orchards are iconic features in the Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire landscape, but have declined by at least 75 % in the last 50 yrs. The drive to plant new and restore old traditional orchards will help to reverse the decline of this priority habitat and of the wildlife that depends on it.

Well managed orchards create an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the wildlife potential in the vicinity. Orchards provide excellent feeding habitat for birds, bats and invertebrates, and where adjacent to strong mature hedgerow networks radiating towards nearby mature woodlands, unimproved grasslands and other orchards, increase connectivity across the wider landscape.

Martin Hayes Chief Surveying Officer, Gloucestershire Orchard Trust, will be running the workshop. He has many years of experience managing traditional orchards and hosting events such as this.

Formative pruning and young tree care

This event is to be held at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern.

The workshop will teach participants how to prune young trees safely, looking at different fruit types and varieties, and how to manage the trees to reach their full potential.

Questions and discussion are encouraged throughout the day.

The day includes a strong element of practical work. Stout boots and good outdoor clothing are essential as much of the day will be spent enjoying the elements.

All equipment will be provided.

Hot drinks and lunch are also provided, please let us know of any dietary requirements when signing up.