Renovating Trotter's orchard

Robyn and two Woodlands School pupils

Chief Pruner, Dave

Some orchards are beyond help, sadly, but not the old Trotter orchard at Woodlands. Thanks to the foresight of its present owners, Alex and Miranda Hunter, and the good work of the original families who planted and cared for the orchard when it was young, and the Open Orchard team who grafted and donated the new set of heritage trees to fill the gaps left by trees that haven't made it thus far, the orchard is viable again. As with many old orchards on Southland farms, the Trotter orchard was disappearing as its rarely-attended-to trees succumbed to damage from weather, livestock and old age. However, this orchard near Woodlands has received some special treatment in the form of a spruce-up from our Open Orchard grafters, pruners and planters. We have replaced all of the 'lost' trees, thanks to the magic of grafting and while we were at it, pruned the whole orchard in such a way that its life will be extended significantly. Pupils from Woodland School came out to help plant and prune the newest trees and will continue to be involved with the orchard as other aspects of it are up-graded. Dave, whom we met only recently, donated his time and experience-taught skill with pruning to help shape the oldest of the trees and tickle them into further production. Alex and Miranda provided and installed heavy mesh surrounds for the smallest trees, as there are to be sheep grazing the grass in order to keep the orchard  tidy and well manured. Miranda provided us with lunch as well and the weather was more than kind, given the forecast. For my part, I scampered around in the higher branches armed with my Silky pruning saw and reshaped the very old and tangled tops, and lopped-off any stubs left behind by historical pruners. We made a bonfire from the loppings, though we didn't have time to light it, more's the pity. We will revisit the orchard at blossoming time and again when the fruit is ripening, just to enjoy the fruits of our labours.
Well done everyone! That's what I call a worthwhile day's work.