Steyning Community Orchard: Hello again

This is one of the most exciting times in a fruit orchard. All the blossom will have finished with tiny fruits forming, hopefully bringing lots and lots of apples, plums and pears in the early autumn. No more late frosts to damage the flowers and setting fruit, especially the stone fruit which tend to flower earliest.

Often in June there is a “fruit drop” of the imperfectly forming fruit. This is so the tree does not expend its energy wastefully on fruit that will not be healthy. We have to watch and wait.

What is done is done. It is all in the anticipation.

We keep an eye on the trees and fruit to make sure they are healthy and not suffering from an attack by greenfly or caterpillars enjoying the lush tender leaves and young fruit, or a virus or fungus. These have to be “nipped in the bud”!

We have now planted over 70 trees in our own and surrounding orchards and gardens. We are beginning to wonder if the time is coming when we will need to have “Orchard Wardens” to spread the work load of the Steering Group.

We are now in our sixth year and a period of consolidation is appropriate so we do not outgrow ourselves. Many hands make light work. So, if anyone reading this article would like to become actively involved, do get in touch through one of the addresses below.

Our Web Site has been updated and is now much more user friendly. The “fruits” of this are that we are getting better feedback on how it is being used and by how many.

We have work days in the MPF on every second Saturday of the month from 10:00 to 12:00. Do come and help us and bring your family along. The next one will be on the 8th of June.

In the Steyning Downland Orchard, which we run in partnership with the Steyning Downland Scheme, we have space for 8 more trees. So we need 8 more donors. If you have £100 and don't know what to do with it, this might be a good idea! It covers the purchase of the tree plus the stout stakes and wire for protection, in addition to the care and maintenance of the tree.

The last group of trees will be different species, perhaps Medlar, Perry pear, Quince and Mulberry and no doubt an Apple or two.

Enjoy your summer and we look forward to you contacting us.