TIME TO PRUNE

Perhaps you have a rather neglected fruit tree or group of fruit trees in your garden or orchard?

Last year The Apple Corp members, Greg, Iris and Jo attended a fantastic pruning course at Day's Orchard in Brookthorpe.  

Pruning Day:  Sunday 15th February 10 am - 1.00 pm.  For further details and booking www.dayscottage.co.uk  or telephone 01452 812879

WASSAIL 2015

WASSAILING PAINSWICK

 SATURDAY 17th JANUARY 2015

Come and join us for Wassailing in Painswick 5pm from St Mary's Church Rooms.  Bring your drums, rattles, whistles or just yourselves,  dress warmly and bring a torch for the Wassailing Procession through the streets of Painswick to the Orchard in Vicarage Street.  There we will wake up the orchard and "Toast" the King Tree before home to the Church Rooms for hot mulled drinks, jars of the strong stuff, a tasty but inexpensive supper and some music to jig to.

Tuesday 13th January is our Wassailing Mask Making workshop
in the ACP Gallery at the Painswick Centre 2-6pm.  This is especially perfect for children and the masks can be worn for the procession and afterwards will be displayed in the ACP Gallery.

SATURDAY NIGHT IS WASSAIL NIGHT

11th Jan 2014

We've  got  a  whole  programme  for  Wassail

5/5.15pm  procession  to  orchard :  Wassail  -  Burn  the Wicca-man

 'Circle  of  Fire'  for  Mummers

Back  to  Church  Rooms  for  food,  drink &  Entertainment  &  "2 Anchors"  Shanty  Band.

We  need  volunteers  for  the  Church  Rooms  

Setting  Up  -  Food &  Drink  Sales  etc. &  clearing  up  at  end. 

 Probably  finishing  at  9.30/10pm.For  more  info  &  how  you  want  to  help

Call  Karensa 01452 813779 or John  01452 812709  -  07969  918121

We were all delighted that you took the time to visit us at The Big Apple Day.

 

Enquiries were made about:

• Pressing your own apples for pasteurised juice and/or cider.
• Pruning and identification.
• Restoration of your orchard.

We are holding three Saturday pressings at

Gastrells Farm, Portway, Upton St. Leonards. GL4 8DS.

 

The dates are: 26^th October and 2^nd November. If demand is high, other dates can be arranged.

 

• All the equipment is set up inside a beautiful Tythe Barn, so it does not matter what the weather throws at us.
• John Watts [The Farm owner] and / or an Apple Core member will be on hand to help and explain the process.
• A charge will be made to cover the cost of equipment, calor gas, and power. (approx. £1.20 per bottle using our bottles and assuming you want it pasteurised.  It is much cheaper if you just want to press the juice and take it home for cider or freezing) 
• New sterile bottles are available for juice. If you are pressing juice for cider, you will need to bring your own containers.
• If you would like to press your own fruit, please could you let me know by email [greg@microhep.com] what times and date you would prefer.

Apple Identification & Pruning.

 

Martin Hayes is a professional tree surgeon, working closely with Gloucestershire Orchard Group. He is happy to advise free of charge on identification and pruning. Contact him direct: martin.hayes9@btinternet.com  Tel: 07900 985679.

 

Orchard Restoration

 

The Painswick Community Orchard Group would love to get involved in any restoration project where there is a community benefit.

If the orchard is private, John Rhodes [812709]  or Brian Radford [mob: 07503884386] are happy to quote for hedge trimming and clearance work.

BIG apple day...

Art Couture Painswick

Art Couture is a huge wearable art festival that takes over the small Cotswold town of Painswick each year. This year the orchard group will be at Red Lion House in the heart of Painswick (opposite Hamptons Estate Agent) selling homemade elderflower cordial and ice cream. 

Do come and say hello and find out more about the Apple Day that this year will be taking place on Sunday, 29th September. 

Was heil!

Thank you for coming to the wassail last night, we hope that you had lots of fun and that your heads aren't too sore this morning? We were delighted that so many local people came, old faces and lots of new ones too supporting this enchanting Painswick Community Orchard Group event.

John Rhodes led the wassail down to the orchard, many held fire lit torches, whilst others banged their pots and pans. Many of the children wore amazing masks that they had made. In the picture above you can just about see photographer Paul Nicholls' camera lens, we are delighted that The Citizen came and took pictures and look forward to seeing them in print.

After the 'king tree' was blessed, everyone returned to the Church Rooms to listen to live music from Out to Lunch, watch the fantastic Petty Heglers Mummers perform a traditional play and enjoy a glass (or two) of cider!

Was heil to you all and here's hoping all of our merriment brings a fruitful harvest this year.