Pruning old fruit trees
TWO-DAY HANDS-ON COURSES HELD IN AN OLD ORCHARD
Course 1: Saturday 10 + Sunday 11 January 2009
Course 2: Tuesday 13 + Wednesday 14 January 2009
10am-5pm both days
You will learn how to improve the health and productivity of old fruit trees by appropriate pruning. Skills learnt will also be applicable for pruning younger fruit trees and other trees/shrubs.
Venue
Stanmer Park (near University of Sussex), Brighton. Click here for directions to our meeting point at Stanmer Park
Course tutor
Tuition will by provided by Bryn Thomas, an experienced tutor/trainer who has been pruning old and neglected fruit trees professionally for over 15 years.
Who is the course for?
The course is open to anyone over the age of 16. No prior knowledge of pruning is needed. However due to its specialist nature it will be of interest to experienced gardeners and professionals as well as the complete novice. It is a practically based course. Participants should be willing, and consider themselves physically able, ‘to have a go’. Most participants are likely to want to use ladders to gain access to taller trees but access to some of the smaller trees is feasible without leaving the ground. You must also be willing to spend most of the weekend out of doors!
What will the course cover?
The course will provide participants with practical skills through hands-on experience of renovation and ongoing pruning of old apple trees. These skills are essential to anyone caring for mature fruit trees, but the expertise to carry out this work is not very widespread or accessible. Fruit trees that are not properly cared for often become unproductive and diseased, frequently causing them to die prematurely. Many of the techniques learned will have applications in the care of younger and newly-planted fruit trees, and other trees and shrubs.
What you will need to bring
• Plenty of warm weatherproof outdoor clothing
• Sturdy outdoor footwear
• Secateurs and pruning saws if you have them
• Belt for your trousers (needed to attach pruning saw holsters)
• Step ladders or extending ladders, if you have them and are driving
• Pens and a notebook
• A packed lunch
• A flask of hot drink is strongly recommended
Learning methods and outcomes
A discussion about what participants want from the course will be followed by brief theory sessions and practical demonstrations. However, the majority of the course will be devoted to practical hands-on experience with guidance from the tutor. By the end of the course participants will have the practical skills necessary to carry out renovation pruning of old fruit trees without supervision.
What does this course lead on to?
This short specialist course is not accredited. It does not lead on directly to any other courses, but should provide a taster for those interested in progressing to work or courses in silviculture or horticulture.
Tools
We would strongly advise that anyone who intends to prune trees should have good tools. Poorer tools are a false economy; they are harder work, give inferior results and do not last. It is advisable to purchase tools before the course as we only have limited/inferior tools to lend to people. We recommend the following tools, which are not available from the shops and are best bought well in advance:
• A good quality pair of secateurs - we recommend Felco secateurs, model number 8 is Bryn's favourite, but model numbers 4 and 5 are good and are cheaper (left-handed people should buy model number 9). A leather holster is also recommended. Click here to visit a web site where these tools can be bought.
• A good quality pruning saw - we recommend Silky saws. The Gomtaro 300 models are most universally useful and come with a holder that attaches to your belt making them safer to carry when not in use. Some people with short legs have commented that they prefer to use a saw with a shorter blade as the larger holsters can uncomfortably jab in the back of the knees. The fine blades have smaller teeth which make a better quality cut but are a little harder to use; replacement blades are available. Click here to visit a web site where these tools can be bought.
Recommended reading
This book is recommended but it is not necessary for those attending to buy or read it.
• RHS Pruning and Training, Christopher Brickell and David Joyce
Fees
Fees include tuition, refreshments, handouts and information sheets.
£140 - Sponsored/organisation rate
£140 - Individual income more than 25k/yr
£110 - Individual income 18-25k/yr
£80 - Individual waged less than 18k/yr
£50 - Individual, concessionary rate
Concessionary rates are available to people in receipt of means tested benefits, students & OAPs.
We endeavour to make our courses affordable to all. Unfortunately we do not receive any external funding and as such rely on large amounts of voluntary input to run courses. In some circumstances we may be able to negotiate fee reductions if you can offer significant other support or facilities.
See the cancellations, refunds and transfers policy.
Booking
Advanced booking is essential. Places are currently available on this course/event unless there has been an exceptional number of reservations in the last 48 hours, so please complete a reservation form rather than contacting us regarding the availability of places as these are allocated in the order received. If places are still available then reservations can be made until midday the Friday before the course/event.
To reserve a place please fill out the online reservation form. When we have received your reservation we will email you to confirm that a place is available and request payment. Payment can be made either online using a credit/debit card or by post with a cheque/postal order. A place is not secured until we have received the requested payment.
Please do not reserve a place if you are not able to pay for it immediately. If your circumstances are exceptional we may be able to make a special arrangement, but please contact us before reserving a place.
Click here to fill in an online reservation form having read the information on this page. We email to confirm your reservation within three days, please check your spam or junk email folder (especially Hotmail account holders).
Contact us
For further information or if you have problems with your application/booking please contact us.
Photo: The Argus Brighton
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