Haymaking 2023

Yaxley Countryside Volunteers have been busy in the Community Orchard cutting grass for hay.  We manage the orchard with a view to it being a haven for wildlife as well as to produce fruit. As part of this we allow the grass and other plants to grow between the rows of trees. The orchard is home to over sixty varieties of wild plants which provide shelter and food for wildlife such as insects, birds, mammals and amphibians.

It is important that the grass is cut during the late summer and we do this in a traditional way to make hay. The grass is cut and left to dry, is turned to continue the drying process and then collected by hand. The hay goes off to a local stable to be used as fodder for the horses.

As part of managing the orchard we have also been pruning trees and thinning out fruit. Some of the blossom was caught by frost during the spring and so not much fruit has set on those trees. Other trees have so much fruit on the branches that there is a risk that the weight will cause the young branches to break thus the need to thin out some of the fruit – this is particularly true for some of our apple trees.

And speaking of apples………Saturday October 21st is national Apple Day and the orchard will be open to the local community. There will children’s activities, fruit to sample and a chance to have a look round. If you need advice about looking after your own fruit trees or are thinking about planting a fruit tree in your own garden we will be on hand to answer any questions.

If you would like to help us look after the orchard or join in with our other projects around the village then please get in touch.

secretary@ycv.org.uk