by Colin French – Sustainable Warminster.
The humble apple has such a long-term symbolic place in human history from scripture to folklore.
Planting fruit trees is certainly an act of faith. It leaves a legacy and for this reason a plan thatadded to the already growing numbers of orchards in Britain, included Warminster’s own orchardwhich came into being in 2013. A small group, Warminster Area Community Orchard or WACO was formed, and has developed the scheme ever since.
With funding and enthusiasm of a small group of volunteers, 42 trees were planted on a wet weekend in April 2013. Staked and protected with wire and rabbit guards, they formed the first of many, and today the number is 76.
The orchard Yeates Meadow, close to Boreham Road church, is on six acres of land gifted to the National Trust by Major Yeates. The town council are the tenants and with a little persuasion y agreed with the scheme and gave permission to begin the project. Now seven years on, it is starting to become productive and well-supported by locals. Primarily used by dog walkers, it’s become a haven for relaxation and is seen as an asset, and protected from housing development – which was a threat to the field..
A full list of the varieties is shown on a map at the entrance and includes rare and unusual fruit trees, mostly apples, but a few pear trees and a plum tree too.
Our most valued trees are the old Wiltshire varieties such as Wiltshire Monster, Corsley Pippin, Mary Barnett, and Dredges Fame, Celt, Chorister Boy. All were collected from Wiltshire orchards, propagated and distributed to county orchards. We were lucky enough to be offered 10 trees, now doing very well. The trees are all labelled to keep a record of the varieties.
The technique of fruit production is interesting. Fruit trees are grafted onto a suitable rootstock: that rootstock determines the ultimate size of the tree. The stocks have been developed over the years to give a known growth rate and performance for disease resistance etc.. The variety is grafted onto that rootstock and clever nurserymen and women train the tree until it’s ready for planting out to mature.
Most of the trees on the orchard are on dwarf rootstocks. That’s why the trees look so small even after seven years but this makes them easy to manage with pruning and harvesting. The fruit can of course be sampled by anyone passing through, but the main aim is to press it and give away juice to local people.
We have now had four apple pressing sessions, usually in early October. Dates are posted on the entrance sign or on the Facebook page. We have topped up quantities from local fruit trees and collected vast amounts of fruit that would otherwise go to waste. Drinking freshly-pressed apple juice makes it all worthwhile. If the juice is pasteurised, or made into cider, it keeps a long time.
Every January for the past three years we have staged a Wassail – an ancient rite to bless the orchard for a good harvest. This has been hugely popular and with warm mulled cider and a few rousing songs, we do all we can to ensure a good crop.
The care, maintenance and harvesting is by volunteers who sporadically meet to look after the trees and plant new ones during the winter. Several trees have now been donated and one or two planted as memorials to friends and family.
There is always something to do on the orchard. Clearing around the base of the trees and spreading wood chips to retain moisture and suppress the grass is always required, so if youwould like to help, offer as much time as you can spare, once the Corona Virus restrictions have been lifted. From an hour to a morning’s work on Saturdays is always appreciated. You’ll be contributing to an ongoing project that will be an asset to the town for years to come.
Instructions and tips on fruit-growing, pruning methods or choosing suitable varieties, is freely available from me.