Work in the Orchards

Woodland maintenance generates an incredible amount of brash.  While we try and use as much of the cut material as possible -edging paths, as wood chip to create path surfaces, for willow weaving sessions and as habitat piles for our invertebrates - some brash ends up on the bonfire.  The ash from the fires is normally is raked over and covered with a log pile.  Following recent advice, we have this year put some of the wood ash to good use fertilising the fruit trees in our two small orchards.

Wood ash provides macro-nutrients such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous and manganese, as well as micro-nutrients such as zinc, boron, chromium and molybdenum.  This age old practice has long been used to help orchard trees grow healthy crops.  Hopefully we will see the fruits of our labour this autumn.

Channels were also cleared in these areas to help drain the worst of the surface water.

Thank you to everyone who helped us with this task in such awful weather!