Tool care 14th March 2025 workshop

 After all the orchard winter pruning, it was time to turn our attention to the tools we use  and their condition. Some of the secateurs and loppers we brought along were rather rusty and not as sharp as needed for a clean cut when pruning our orchard trees.

Gavin from The Orchard Project agreed to lead a workshop on tool maintenance. This took place on 14th March at the croquet club room. The ten people who attended were a mix of orchard volunteers from Mayow and other Lewisham orchards along with croquet club members, all keen to improve our tool care skills.

Gavin talked about the equipment  for cleaning and sharpening. He showed us how to take apart secateurs in a systematic way so that it can be put back together correctly. He showed us some of the many types of tool cleaning and oiling resources available commercially, some of which are more nature friendly than others. We learned about a lanolin-based oil which is made from sheep's wool and is more benign to plants. Most of us had previously heard of, or used, WD40.  But, looking at the ingredient list, we understood that it contains chemicals we should avoid in an organically-managed orchard. 

We were keen to practice our newly-learned skills though not everyone could stay for that.

Chatting at the end of the session and afterwards, we unanimously agreed it had been a very helpful session. We went home with lists of items to buy to get our tools back to their best. 

ORCHARD WINTER PRUNING Feb 2025

 February was cold, grey and wet but our fruit trees still need to be looked after.

Our pruning workshops in February proved popular. We talked about the tools we use,  why we prune apples and pears in winter but not stone fruit, which branches to prune first (dead, diseased, damaged) and how to open up the central branch network to allow light and air in. All participants are involved with community orchards. Here are some photos.

Hard hat protection

 

Goggles to protect eyes from saw dust

      

choosing where to prune

                        

Being taller can help

As the workshops were training sessions for participants, we couldn't finish all the pruning in the two sessions. Fortunately Frank came in early March and worked with Alona. They gave the remaining trees some formative pruning to clear crowded and crossing branches, as well as branches growing into the middle of  trees. Job done.

Creating new wildlife habitats

 16th October 2024: Lizzy from The Orchard Project led our team of volunteers on a habitat creation journey in and around Mayow Park orchard on a fine, warm October day.

Tools at the ready in wheelbarrows

Photo AS

We were joined by young people from Free We Grow, who came ready to work. Under Lizzy's guidance the young people planted bulbs in the soil around the trees so that, come spring, we will have a lovely floral show.

Photo Mariana FWG

The children worked well as a team and some good conversations were had about what they were doing.

photo Mariana FGW

photo Mariana FWG

photo Mariana FWG

Meanwhile Friends of Mayow volunteers searched for wooden logs the thickness of an arm or slightly thicker. These logs were sawn to manageable lengths ready to create our stag beetle loggery.

Photo AS

Lizzy found the perfect location:  

Photo AS

Stag beetles are among a number of UK endangered invertebrates. Even though there are not huge numbers,  they seem to have settled in South East London where there find old, rotting logs to lay their eggs. Stag beetle larvae can spend up to seven years munching through logs half-buried in the ground. Then they pupate and emerge from their cosy woody homes into daylight.  And we find these royal insects flying around on warm evenings from late May into July as they search for mates, lay eggs and the cycle starts again.

With the logs ready, the two Mikes prepared the ground:

Photo AS

Their artistic creation:   

Photo AS

All finished: 

Photo AS

Orchard fruit tree pruning workshops early 2024

We held FOUR fruit tree pruning workshops in the Mayow Park orchard starting end of January and with our last session on 10th Feb 2024. Why four? A number of people asked to take part and we chose dates to accommodate them. This gave us small working groups so we got to share our skills and  knowledge. Some people had no previous pruning experience and others had a lot. Some people were surprised to learn that it is best to prune stone fruit (cherries, plums etc) in summer as winter pruning can make them more susceptible to silver leaf fungal infections. All sessions were led by Alona.

We started by looking at tools, how we use them safely and tool care; anvil and bypass secateurs, telescopic fruit tree pruners, loppers, saws.  We shared info on hygiene when pruning and why mulching our trees is a good idea. 

We looked closely at some of the trees to check for 3 Ds (dead, damaged, diseased), and 2 Cs (crossing and crowded), talking about which branches to prune and why. Then we got to work, in pairs and under supervision. 

We were lucky with the weather on all four sessions;  despite rain being a daily occurrence we had two dry hours each time. Thank you everyone who came along and joined in.

Susan and Janet

Yogi and Sue

Alex with secateurs

Mike and Sue with a vigorous perry pear

Claudia and Millie with the Core Blimey

Alona with a long-handled pruner

Frank doing formative pruning on the Red Windsor

Jean at work on Conference pear

AS Feb 2024