After a Spring that proved challenging for many growers, unpredictable rain, winds and temperatures continued into Summer and Autumn. At the nursery, this resulted in a slow start to the season, and a rate of growth in September that is more like what we’d usually expect in June and July. That said, once things got …
It’s been a seriously busy season packing and sending out orders of apples, pears, damsons, plums, quince, cherries and one or two medlars. A big thank you to everyone who placed orders with me! Your support is greatly appreciated, and I hope you will continue to enjoy your trees for many years to come. …
With chilly nights hungrily encroaching on meagre daylight hours, and the striking colours of Autumn fading with Winter’s frosty grasp, Nature is preparing for a period of rest and hibernation. But for tree nurseries all over the UK, we are now in one of the busiest parts of the season. With the trees in their …
Last month we welcomed a barnful of local stallholders and visitors to the nursery for our Summer Pop-Up. The atmosphere was buzzing and it was fantastic to be able to welcome so many keen gardeners, growers, foodies, and people wanting to make a positive difference; whether by planting for pollinators in their gardens, stewarding heritage …
This weekend, I made a visit to the Swansea Orchard Project to tutor in summer grafting and pruning as part of an accredited Certificate in Community Orcharding at a beautiful community orchard within the old walled garden of Margam Country Park. Set in 1,000 acres of Parkland, it is a place steeped in history, wildlife …
Visiting Swansea Orchard Project & the Grafting Season begins Read More »
Leading a guided tour of the site at our Maker’s Market last month With the Summer Solstice already behind us, and lots of growth at the nursery, it seems like a good time to update on what’s been happening. We have just completed our stocktake of nursery trees for the coming winter season. This has …
The trees are bulging with fruit. We’re enjoying Discovery apples and Beth pears at the moment…
tinified (6) We’ve started lifting trees now they are dormant. Once they are dug out of the ground they are ‘heeld in’ to a bed with very light soil where they can be easily lifted as they are ordered.
This photo shows young growth on apple trees budded in August 2012.
These Doyenne du commice pears are growing on a 20 year old hawthorn. The scions were cleft grafted in April 2010. So far so good! This Medlar ‘Nottingham’ was budded onto a self set hawthorn in April 2010 and is growing away nicely. The first growth at the beginning of the season got knocked off …
A lot has happened at the nursery since I last updated this blog. Here are some photos of a shed I built using Douglas Fir and European Larch. I take commissions for all sorts of woodworking projects. Please contact me if you would like to discuss your ideas.
These pictures show different techniques for ‘top working’ an existing apple tree. On the left shows a successful rind graft of Lord Lambourne. The right hand picture shows one failed and one successful cleft graft on the variety Worcester Pearmain. Both grafts have taken very well, putting on some very healthy growth. I’m surprised at …
As seen in 
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