Subject: Orchards East Bulletin December 2017

December 2017 Welcome to our monthly bulletin. We aim to bring you the latest news from our 3-year Heritage Lottery funded project in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. A guided walk around Fairfield Orchards, Bedfordshire Orchards East launched in Bedfordshire and Norfolk! Orchards East was launched in Bedfordshire on 11th November at Fairfield Community Hall near Hitchin, followed by a guided walk around the Fairfield Orchards, thanks to Penny Daffarn, Parish Councillor and Orchard Volunteer. During a morning of short presentations, an audience of around 40 people heard what OE hopes to achieve; the work of the Bedfordshire and Luton Orchards Group and Fairfield Orchards; how the Bedfordshire and Luton’s Biodiversity Recording and Monitoring Centre are mapping historic orchards in the county; and the interest that the UEA’s Landscape History department has in historical orchards. Participants were encouraged to discover how to get involved in a variety of OE projects including orchard surveys, historical research and the oral history project. A similar launch was held for Norfolk on 4th November at the Green Britain Centre in Swaffham where we were delighted to welcome 60 participants in spite of a day of torrential rain! As well as hearing what OE hopes to achieve and about the research work of the UEA’s Landscape History department, the presentations included the work of the East of England Apples and Orchards Project in Norfolk and Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service’s work to map historic orchards in the county. Bob Lever gave an entertaining introduction to the Green Britain Centre’s orchard (previously the site of Brocks Fireworks) before leading a walk around the orchard. Fairfield Orchards in Bedfordshire Orchards East Winter Workshops Various training workshops are available as below in Jan, Feb and March – pruning, grafting and formative, reformative and restoration pruning – led by experts Anna Baldwin, Paul Read and Bob Lever. Please click on the blue button below for further details and how to book. You will be very welcome! Saturday 20th January 9.45 am – 3.30 pm Pruning Workshop Waldringfield, Newbourne and Hemley Scattered Orchard, Suffolk Sunday 28th January 9.45 am – 3.30 pm Reformative Pruning Workshop Cressing Temple Barns, Witham Rd, Cressing, Braintree CM77 8PD FREE! Saturday 3rd February 10.00 am – 3.00 pm Reformative Pruning Workshop Wandlebury Country Park, Stapleford, Cambridge, CB22 3AE FREE! Sunday 4th February 10.00 am – 3.00 pm Restorative Pruning Workshop Tewin Orchard, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, Tewin, AL6 0LY FREE! Saturday 10th February 10.00 am – 1.30 pm Formative Pruning Workshop Metfield Community Orchard, Metfield Suffolk, IP20 0JY FREE! Saturday 10th February 10.00 am – 4.00 pm Grafting Workshop Foxburrow Farm, Saddlemakers Lane, Melton, Woodbridge IP12 1NA FREE! Sunday 11th February 10.00 am – 3.00 pm Restorative Pruning Workshop Rummer’s Lane orchard, Wisbech St. Mary, Cambridgeshire FREE! Saturday 10th March 10.00 am – 4.00 pm Grafting Workshop Working Woodlands Centre, Maulden Wood,, Haynes West End, Bedfordshire MK45 3UZ FREE! Saturday 24th March 9.45 am – 3.30 pm Formative Pruning WorkshopTewin Orchard, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, Tewin, AL6 0LY FREE! To find out more and to book please click on the button below. Winter Workshop Programme Orchard expert Bob Lever leading a training course on pruning old fruit trees Hertfordshire Volunteer Surveyor Training Thursday 18th January at Croxley Green Community Centre and Stones Orchard 10.30 am – 1.30 pm. The training is for anyone who has already signed up in Hertfordshire to be a surveyor or anyone in Hertfordshire who would like to become a surveyor. It is a chance to go through the survey pack, ask questions and then have a go at completing the survey form by visiting Stones orchard and other orchards in Croxley Green. Places are limited to 18, but there will be further dates across the county and also in the other counties. To book a place email rachel.savage or gen.broad The Orchard Project survey The Orchard Project > is currently running a level 3 certificate in orchard management. It is a level 3 accredited course, in modular form and is the first of its kind. There are some very knowledgeable tutors. For example, Steve Oram (Orchard Biodiversity Officer, Poeple’s Trust for Endangered Species) delivers the orchard biodiversity module and Russell Miller (Chairman of the Ancient Tree Forum) delivers the veteran tree module. They are trying to gauge what interest there may be in running the course outside London and repeating it in London. Anyone who might be interested in this kind of training is asked to complete the survey. Take the Orchard Project Survey Grow Wild Funding Opportunity Have you got an exciting idea for a project that brings people together through activities that connect their community and celebrate UK native wildflowers, plants and/or fungi? Grow Wild is awarding funding of £2,000 or £4,000 to groups and projects that are different and focus on UK native wildflower, plants and/or fungi and engage particular groups of people. To see the criteria and apply visit Grow Wild. Grow Wild Funding We hope everyone had a relaxing Christmas and we wish you all a fruitful New Year! Cambridgeshire Launch 17th Feb 10 am – 3 pm Girton College and Orchard, Cambridge CB3 0JG The day will feature a morning of short, exciting presentations, followed by a tour of the orchard and a light lunch. This is a free event – everyone is very welcome! Come along and find out more about the project and how to get involved. Please book by emailing Gen Broad at g.broad Essex Launch Venue and date in March to be arranged Download the Cambridgeshire launch programme You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

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