On Saturday, 21st February, a dedicated group of our orchard Cropsharers gathered in the community orchard at the Sylva Wood Centre for a winter maintenance session. Under a wintery but dry sky, six volunteers joined us to learn the essential skills needed to help our young trees thrive.
The day was led by orchard expert Andrew Lea, who shared his wealth of knowledge on structural pruning and tree health. It was a hands-on experience, giving cropsharers the chance to practice their techniques on the young trees while ensuring they are well-shaped for the coming growing season.
The event also marked a special transition for the orchard. It was a pleasure to introduce Sam Ashton, who will be taking over the management of the orchard from Andrew. We are incredibly grateful to Andrew for his years of guidance and expertise, and we look forward to working with Sam as the orchard continues to mature.
A huge thank you to the cropsharers who gave up their Saturday morning to help. These maintenance days are vital for the health of our orchard, and it’s wonderful to see the community coming together to care for this shared space.
