On this page there is a Jobs Priority List, and details of what those jobs entail.

ORCHARD JOBS PRIORITY LIST

5 Oct 2026 Thanks to all who did some work on the orchard yesterday. The work is clearly paying-off. I have added a set of photos to the orchard pages on the website, they show how much has been achieved.
01 Oct 26 I (ML) have had a look at the orchard today and these are the jobs which need our attention:
+ Weed new hedge.
+ Strim grass and clear the cuttings.
+ Top-up pond.
+ Clear bottom of fruit trees.
+ Weed path.
+ Weed bench area.
+ Train perimeter bushes etc.
29 Sep 26 I (ML) will take a look at the current state of the orchard today or tomorrow and then update this Jobs Priority List with the updated priorities.
27 Aug 26 Current negotiations with Estate Manager suggest we may be able to get started on log-and-chip path quite soon.

DETAILS OF ORCHARD JOBS

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR ORCHARD JOBS Gloves, garden twine, eye protection, secateurs, kneeler, water, sun-tan cream, weeding tool, fork, spade, wheelbarrow, plant training wire and cutter, rake.

FRUIT SHRUB WEEDING Clear area around rhubarb and blackberries.
FRUIT TREES’ BASES Keep weed/grass free and covered in much, protect the plants planted under the fruit trees.
GATE REPAIRS Fix any faults with latch etc.
GRASS STRIMMING Cut down grass except wild borders etc.
HARVEST FRUIT ML will advertise the opportunity when it arises.
LITTER Collect and remove. Avoid leaving in the orchard as this may encourage more letter.
NEW HEDGE The new hedge requires ‘nurturing’ while the plants are still young. Particular attention to the bind-weed. When removing bindweed growing up (strangling) new hedge plants take care not to pull it off too vigorously because it is so tough you may actually damage/up-root the hedge plant you are trying to de-weed. It is better to find the stem of the bindweed and cut the bindweed at ground-level. Then un-thread it gently from the hedge plant.
REPAIR FENCES The wire fences around the orchard can break, repair as required with strong wire etc.
PATH EXTENSION Work is in hand to acquire the materials to make a log and chipping path along the three sides not currently provided with brick paving.
PATH WEEDING Remove weeds from brick path. Take care not to move bricks (they have no mortar).
POND FILLING Keep pond adequately full of water.
PRUNE FRUIT TREES To be done with specialist advice.
PRUNE HEDGES New hedge not yet ready for pruning. Existing hedges to be pruned to remove growth pointing towards centre of orchard. Train growth growing along the boundary perimeter.
PRUNE SHRUBS Prune shrubs around the perimeter of the orchard. Remove growth which is growing too far towards the centre of the orchard, train growth to grow along the fences.
RAKE GRASS About 3 days after grass strimming. Put cut grass onto compost pile. 
THIN FRUIT ON TREES Thin out with specialist advice.

EXAMPLE OF LOG-AND-CHIP PATH CONSTRUCTION