Churchend Orchard – latest progress…

Shed for tools (and keeping dry)

We have erected an old shed, which has taken three work parties so far. Task one was to clear a section of brambles in the South Eastern corner and to renovate the rotten parts of the shed. WP 7 then created a platform to cope with the slope in that corner (the idea being to have the shed as far from the public eye as possible).

Finally WP 8 completed the floor and decking access and erected the shed. Photos from Kevin in the Gallery, showing how the hinges don’t work yet, but its all watertight.

Animal attacks

The main fruit cage has been netted up, allowing the autumn rasps to grow on unhindered by the deer. Sadly, our small crop of blackcurrants has been nibbled away by rabbits etc, so we must protect the second flush in WP 9.

Likewise the strawberries are suffering such that they look smaller than when we planted them! Not too late to protect them 100%, there being four more months of good growing conditions for the plants to beef up ready for next year and maybe throw out some babies.

School Involvement

Graeme Dougan has taken on the responsibility for school activities, which will take up the south-east quarter i.e. right of the pedestrian gate to about level with the Telegraph pole. The overall idea is to have a Gathering Space for outdoor lessons and maybe for other groups to enjoy by arrangement.

A class of children have been on site with Graeme, using a maths class to measure and record the plot. The children have since had further use of the data gathered in an indoor lesson, building up a plan for us to see. This will incorporate the Whale Jaw Bones.

A grant of 450 hedging plants has been secured form the Woodland Trust to mark out the school plot, including the southern boundary with the Burial Ground. That will see the end of that part of the barbed wire in a couple of years hopefully.