A Time To Gather In....

A Time To Gather In…… 

The weather this year has been unsettled to say the least. Some of our trees in the Community Orchard have done very well. However, we have two trees of the same variety next to each other with one showing an abundance of fruit whist next door nothing at all. The droughts have affected some trees more than others and we have had to water them several times over the last few months. As well as thinning out fruit, watering trees and mowing grass we keep an eye out for the wildlife in the orchard. This year has been a good year for grasshoppers and those insects that like long grass.

We have a variety of different ripening times for the fruit in the orchard. The plums always come first with apples and pears following after. This gives fruit from July through to October. We also have Hazelnuts and Walnuts in the orchard but the local squirrels usually get there first! A lot of fruit will fall from the trees before harvesting and this is food for local wildlife – birds, small mammals and insects will make good use of this bounty. In theory every blossom flower will go on to be a fruit but nature doesn’t always end up that way – late frosts, droughts and the local wildlife will see to that. We also thin out the fruit in June – it is better to have fewer bigger fruit rather than more smaller ones.

Some of the fruit will go to members of YCV, some will go to the Community Fridge and local residents can sample the produce of the orchard at our Apple Day event on Saturday 18th October - the orchard will be open to the public and there will be free samples, activities and displays in the Owen Pooley Hall. Make a note for your diary and look out for the posters nearer the date.

If you would like to help us look after the orchard or help us with our projects around the village please do get in touch: 

secretary@ycv.org.uk