Join us for the third session with the Orchard Project
We have teamed up with LBI and the Orchard Project to improve the orchard area in our park. Please join us for our third session in the series, which takes place between noon and 2pm on Saturday September 28. We have more sessions to come after that.
What we have learned already
During the first session we learnt about the right way to prune fruit trees, performed emergency pruning on a heavily damaged tree, and explored some of the techniques of pruning these trees.
The second session on September 14 saw us learn more about what trees need, including how to weed them, and the value of mulching the tree pits. If you visit the orchard you’ll see mulch around each tree, which helps them thrive over winter and stay hydrated (and be even more fruitful!) once summer’s heat returns.
We have made a collection of useful guides into what we have learned so far available in PDF format via this site. More will be added over time as the project continues. Please take a look for them here, or download them directly from the links below:
- Tree Planting and Aftercare (Download link).
- Pruning Young Trees (Download link).
- Seasonal Care Programme (Download link).
What is happening on September 28?
This session will focus on orchard design. We’ll learn what you should and should not do when planning an orchard, and we will decide where to put new fruit trees in our park. It would be great if you could join us, even only for a little while.
When you do drop by, you will discover that project leader Lizzie is a mine of information about fruit trees and how to care for them.
She will be so delighted to meet you all and teach you what she knows. You don’t need to own your own trees to get involved, just join the group — and what you learn during this and the next four sessions will be useful to you when caring for any tree at all.
Snacks will be provided, tools will be available for use on the day – please join the session.
The next sessions will take place in early 2025.
During our first session we had to do some major work to rescue a very damaged plum tree – that’s some of us below – come and join us!
Who are the Orchard Project?
The Orchard Project is the UK’s only national charity dedicated to creating, maintaining and celebrating community orchards. They want to make sure that everyone in towns and cities across the UK is in walking distance of a community-run orchard. The aim is to help develop a better food system, based on people working together where they live to produce and harvest their own.
What will the Orchard Project do?
During our sessions, experts from the Orchard Project are going to work with people across our community to improve our orchard. This is information you can take home with you, advice that will help those who already have fruit trees in their garden take better care of them, while those who don’t have such luxuries can gain first-hand experience in tree-care in the park.
As well as advice, the Orchard Project will provide tangible help, including new trees that will be planted around the Wray Crescent orchard later during the year.
Who is this for?
Everyone who is interested in tree care should be at these workshops. While the sessions are focused on fruit trees, you will pick up transferable skills to help guide your care for other trees. You will learn more, get the chance to speak with your neighbours, and more. We think this will be interesting for kids who love trees, also.
When do the sessions take place?
We have sessions booked on Saturdays from noon-2pm on the following dates:
- August 10.
- September 14.
- September 28.
Two additional sessions are also planned. We’ll keep you updated about those.
Who to thank
These sessions are bought to you by The Friends of Wray Crescent with Islington’s parks team and the Orchard Project. If you like what we do please support us – we hope to see you on August 10, and sessions that follow that.
Also read: What we learned about the trees of Wray Crescent.