Apple tree event – bringing new life to an old estate

Offering yet more interesting goings on at Tehidy Country Park, dedicated members of the volunteer team shared their expertise in orchards and passion the Park during a free event at the site.

Did you know that Orchards were identified as a Priority Habitat in the UK biodiversity Action Plan (2007) – hotspots for biodiversity as fruit trees mature quickly, offering features like deadwood and treeforms that support decomposers and invertebrates, underpinning a rich interconnected food-web.

On 25^th February an event to introduce more orchard trees into Tehidy, and promote community orchards across Cornwall, was led by Andrew Tompsett, a stalwart volunteer who has, over the years, added significantly to the historic orchard on the north-side of Tehidy, and Michelle Lawson, a community orchard facilitator who recently established Resilient Orchards Cornwall and is also a volunteer at the Country Park.

Being canny with the cambium

Various methods of grafting were demonstrated by Andrew, which brought new variety to the existing orchard, which dates back well over 100 years and contains a range of Cornish and commercial varieties. ‘The key thing’ he explained, is ensuring a connection between the cambium (layer just below the bark) of the rootstock and the scion wood (introduced variety)’.

The whip and tongue technique was used to establish a new variety - ‘Sweet society’, a small aromatic eater, whilst the cleft technique was shown as a way to develop a new tree on existing mature rootstock, where the stump is much wider than the scion. Participants were also shown methods for introducing different varieties into the same tree through frameworking, whereby some branches of the original tree are replaced with new ones – great for small gardens as cross pollination and a range of produce can be achieved from the same tree.

Andrew Tompsett Resilient orchards for resilient places and communities

Activities then moved to the Event’s Field, an area that many people visiting Tehidy for a Rogue Theatre performance will be familiar with as the parking area. Here, there is a plan to introduce more biodiversity and interest and planting the apple trees, kindly donated by Michelle, was a great step towards this.

Michelle introduced her community interest company Resilient Orchard Cornwall’s explaining that upskilling in orchard skills and repurposing even quite modest spaces in towns and villages for orchard growing can contribute not just to nature recovery, but also to the ability of people and communities to withstand pressures on our food supply system cheaply and equitably.

Cornish Gillyflower, a distinctive eater with reddish toned bark, were planted at entrances to the woodchip paths winding through the North Cliffs Plantation, acting as ‘natural waymarkers’. Underplanting with spring bulbs including narcissus, fritillaria and bluebell was added to provide a decoration of gem-colours.

The trees having been grafted on to wild rootstock from Tehidy demonstrate how orchards represent ongoing sustainability. Recycled bike tyre inner tubes were used to provide a flexible tie to diagonal stakes and an area at least 50cm diameter was mulched around the tree, providing an important barrier to competitive grasses and helping to retain moisture in the soil whilst the tree roots into the parent soil.

Michelle Lawson of Resilient Orchards Cornwall leads the planting demonstrations

The finished trees looking comfortable in their new home at Tehidy Country Park

For more family focused events at Tehidy, continue to check this page.

To find out more about Resilient Orchards Cornwall visit: https://www.resilientorchards.org.uk/blog/

If you are interested in volunteering at Tehidy Country Park, see upcoming sessions in our Key Dates section.