Huge thanks to Mandy Roberts and Kate Robson for creating these wonderful scarecrows for the village competition. The old ash tree provides a perfect position for William, and what a fabulous expression on his face! Do go and have a look, not to be missed. Judging is on Monday.
A dry and mild morning, it was already remarkably light, once our eyes had acclimatised. Blackbirds dominated the aural landscape from four o’clock onwards (we did not hear the Robins – had they already signed off?). Little else had any say until some plucky Wrens butt in. A brief dispute between male and female Tawny Owls led to a rare sighting of the latter in full flight over the allotments. Then, a range of contenders emerged: Song Thrush on the telephone wires; Chiff Chaff, Great and Blue Tits had their say, alongside occasional squawks from Peacock, Magpie and Jackdaw. Mistle Thrush flight calls were heard in the allotments; ducks in flight were by now seen clearly. Then, on our return walk, smaller birds joined in the melee in the village: Goldcrest, Blackcap, Goldfinch and Greenfinch. It felt like mid-morning at 5:30. We admired how the birds put in those crazy hours!
Marie Schoales 3rd May
Since it was planted early last year the hedge by the footpath has been shrouded by green netting to protect the young whips from rabbit damage. It has now been released to reveal it’s full glory and is looking pretty healthy. It is a mixed native hedge consisting of Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Field Maple, Hazel, Wild Cherry and Dog Rose which will eventually provide cover for birds and insects and lots of flowers and berries too.
The apple trees are just coming into full bloom, and watch out for a new notice board which is going to be put up by the gate shortly.
The Schoales family sent this delightful ‘tweet’ about our local birds:
On our Covid 19 walks by the river in Ovingham, some pleasures are there for us all to witness. We frequently hear and see passing Oystercatcher; Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Goosander, Dippers, and Grey Wagtails are often around. Buzzards, Sparrowhawks and Treecreepers are in the woods nearby, where we have heard territorial Nuthatch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chiff-Chaff, Blackcap and Goldcrest as well as the commoner Long-tailed, Great and Blue tits, Wren, Dunnock, Black Bird, Robin and Song Thrush.
But today, Spring was truly arrived. At least thirty Sand Martins on migration, were perching and feeding from insects over the water. A rarely-seen Reed Bunting was viewed on the riverbank this week. Always hoping for Kingfishers, we expect the other Martins, Swallows soon and before too long, the Swifts will be screeching of Summer.
If you have been past the orchard on your daily exercise walk you will see we have a new sign on the gate. In these dark times we would like to encourage everyone to take a stroll round the orchard if they are passing and check out all the wonderful signs of spring and new life. The apple blossom is not far off! Take care everyone.
The Orchard suffered it’s first flood on 9th February when the Tyne broke it’s banks and filled the field, with just the tops of the trees showing. However, it didn’t last too long, and nothing seemed to suffer except the Bug Hotel, which needs a bit of renovation!
On 27th February we labelled all the trees with smart Aluminium labels, which give the variety of tree/fruit, and the expected picking period for the fruit. Everything looking good, lots of snowdrops appearing and a few daffodils too. No rabbit damage (did they drown?).
A wonderful wassail was held in the orchard yesterday to celebrate Ovingham Community Orchard’s apple trees and to wish them good health (waes haeil). Hearty singing was provided by Keren Banning with her choirs, the Prudhoe Singers and Clara Vale Voices (many thanks to them). Steve Mobbs read out the Wassailing Verse, pans were banged to ward off the evil spirits and then the trees were ‘toasted’ in both toast and mulled cider. A splendid time was had by all, with mulled drinks and apple cake, and a warm brazier to chat around afterwards. Over 60 people attended, thank you to everyone who came and made it such a wonderful community event. To be repeated……!
Our splendid new seat has now been installed at the top of the field. Made out of solid Oak by Peter Cunliffe’s Company, Northumbria Landscaping Ltd, it is a beautiful sturdy structure and will provide a comfortable place to rest a while and enjoy the field and trees. Many thanks to Peter for a wonderful design, and to Northumberland County Council’s Community Chest fund for part funding the seat.
On a bright and very frosty morning the team got to it and planted 8 new trees at the bottom of the field, 2 Hazel trees (Cosford and Kentish Cob), 2 plums (a Greengage and a Damson), 2 cherries (Stella and May Duke), a Medlar tree and a Dartmouth Crab Apple. At the top of the field we have planted 4 more apple trees against a wire frame and will be training them along the wires in the hope that they provide an attractive feature as well as more fruit. Everything that was planted has been fully protected with netting to stop rabbit damage. Thanks to everyone who turned out to help on such a chilly day!
Last Friday, 29th November, the Year 4 children from Ovingham First School came to the orchard with their teacher, Tracy Moore, to celebrate our trees with a Tree Dressing Ceremony. Each hung a home made sock decoration in the shape of an animal or insect on one of the trees and read out a thank you note to the tree. The decorations were just fabulous and it was great fun! Many thanks to them for taking part with such enthusiasm. They also planted some Willow whips of different varieties to help us work out which kinds of Willow are going to be less vulnerable to the local bunnies. We eventually hope to grow a Willow structure at the bottom of the field.
Ovingham Community Orchard 