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The way to learn about local fruit trees is to talk to people and get stuck in with some hands-on work. We've heard people's stories, gone into gardens to look at fruit trees, had stalls at events, done presentations and run pruning courses.
The way to learn about local fruit trees is to talk to people and get stuck in with some hands-on work. We've heard people's stories, gone into gardens to look at fruit trees, had stalls at events, done presentations and run pruning courses.
Project talk, Luton Historical Society
Project talk, Luton Historical Society
Luton Orchards coordinator Konni Deppe was invited to speak about the project to the Luton Historical Society on 17 June 2024. The society organises monthly talks that are usually hosted at Bushmead Community Hub in Luton.
Watch this space for further talks to be delivered to the Orchard Network, Bedfordshire Gardens Trust, U3A and others. Find upcoming dates at What's On.
Would you like to commission the talk for your group? Contact us.
Small-scale apple pressing
Small-scale apple pressing
We got to try out our small-scale apple pressing equipment for the first time on 7 September 2024.
At the Stockingstone Road Allotment Association Open Day, we set up a stall near the on-site community orchard. Apple washing, chopping, crushing and pressing were popular activities with young and old. And the juice was delicious!
Could this be a small step towards a Luton Apple Day?
Pruning courses
Pruning courses
There's no better way to rekindle your love for fruit trees than a pruning session with expert guidance.
We co-organised 3 courses in the 2023/24 season - at the Bide-a-While, Grasmere Nursery and Luton Hoo Walled Garden orchards.
Grafting
Grafting
Treasured fruit tree varieties can be preserved by grafting them onto rootstock.
Since winter 2023/24, we have been grafting scion wood from interesting local trees, so that we have 'backups' for them. If a tree is under threat of dying or being chopped down, taking a graft will ensure it persists. This is especially good if we don't know what variety it is, but (for example) it's a 'good apple'! Think of it as the ultimate forever food - the new tree will still be like the old one.
Are you interested in getting your tree grafted? Contact us or look out for upcoming grafting events on our What's On page.
Outreach at schools
Outreach at schools
Luton Orchards had a stall at 'Edenfest' in Luton on 17 June 2024. The event was held at Woodlands Secondary School, which teaches children with severe learning difficulties, or profound and multiple learning difficulties. The school organised it with the Eden Project.
We talked to people about our project and connected to other organisations that had been invited to show their nature-based crafts and creative activities.
Does your school have an event where we could have a stall? Contact us.
Stalls at outdoor events
Stalls at outdoor events
Luton Orchards took part in Picnic in the Park, Wandon Recreation Park, sharing a stall with the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Hundreds of visitors flocked to the event, hosted by Friends of Wandon Park, on 1 September 2024.
The park, near Putteridge Bury on the edge of Luton, feels like a traditional village green. It was the perfect location to make apple bird feeders (courtesy of the Wildlife Trust) and to engage people in conversation about all things fruit tree.
If you're running an event and would like us to have a stall contact us.
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