OCO took part in the Ovi-Fun Eggstravaganza on Easter Saturday and quite a few families and children had a go at our Apple Name quiz. The event was a great success with lots of children doing crafts and taking part in a trail along the green and river bank. Luckily the sun was shining and it was great to see everyone at a village event once more. And the first apple blossom is out on the Dartmouth crab apple tree, more to come very soon!
A wet winter’s day, but mission accomplished! The orchard now has four new native trees at the southern end, two oaks, a silver birch and a mountain ash. We hope these will grow into large trees for future generations to enjoy and will provide homes and food for wildlife and birds.
The apple trees were also given a trim to help maximize fruit production later in the year, and the autumn raspberry canes cut right down to encourage new growth from the base in the spring. Thank you to everyone who helped.
Really delighted with our new information board explaining the background to the Orchard and giving information about the layout and planting. We are grateful to Graphic Designer Marcus Byron for designing this for OCO, a splendid job!
Last Monday afternoon, pupils who make up the OMS Craft Group made their way to the orchard to hang their handmade Christmas tree decorations on our trees and leave wishes and messages. They did this, slightly early, for Tree Dressing Day, which is the first weekend in December They were the first to do so, with others in the village (including the village Craft Craft Group) adding colourful pom poms throughout the week. Today, on Tree Dressing Day itself, a colourful array of items can be seen adorning the fruit trees.
Tree Dressing Day is a relatively new event, but tree dressing has been used as a celebration in many places all over the world for centuries. Information about what it is and where it happens can be found at https://www.commonground.org.uk/tree-dressing-day/ .
The orchard field has had it’s final cut of the year before the winter comes along. Unfortunately we were not able to get the hay baled up this year, so we had to do some serious raking and it is now in piles around the field to be used as mulch for the trees and hedge.
To celebrate the third year of Ovingham Community Orchard we held an Apple Celebration Day with the highlight being making juice from orchard apples and those which were brought along. We had lots of helpers to chop, scrat (mince) and juice the apples in the apple press. Nearly everyone went away with a bottle of delicious juice. A fabulous day, and we made nearly £100 from selling juice, jam and other produce and there was a chance to try the different orchard apple varieties. Thank you everyone who came along and helped, we will do it again next year!
On Sunday we managed to hold our summer barbeque jointly with members of the Allotments Association on our second attempt (the first being rained off). Although the weather was not perfect everyone enjoyed the chance to get together and savour good food. Wonderful to be able to hold an event again. Apples coming on nicely and some will be ready to pick soon.
A beautiful warm day for learning to make Willow baskets. Wonderful to do a group activity and learn something new. Thanks to Ruth of Sylvan Skills for leading us through it. Very satisfying to take home your own homemade basket, even if a little wonky!
We were lucky enough yesterday to have a gorgeous summer evening to do our annual survey of what is living on the orchard field. Amongst the flowers we found the highlight was a common spotted orchid! Lots of bugs were found including 5 kinds of ladybirds including one with 19 spots. And Small Skipper butterflies were seen again. Special thanks to Finley and Kate for coming down with their grandma to join in so enthusiastically.
New additions to the Orchard. Firstly our entry for the Village Scarecrow competition, the Very Hungry Caterpillar. Lets hope he doesn’t gobble up the trees! And Ovingham First School year 2 children have made us a splendid new herb planter, with herbs that can be used by our visitors when the plants have got a bit bigger. Many thanks to the children and their teacher Norma Smith.
Paths have been cut around the orchard again, and the yellow Crosswort and blue Speedwell plants have been a sight to see. The willow hide now has a hat on too! We will be doing our annual plant and bug survey on 15th June.
Ovingham Community Orchard 