PLEASE NOTE THIS DATE HAS CHANGED FROM 29TH JUNE

About this event

Now is the time to be thinking about pruning those fruit trees as we head towards winter. This year we are lucky to spend time in the many orchards of Te Horo Harvest under the guidance of Billy Paul. Billy is back by popular demand as his holistic approach to tree pruning is always inspiring and his explanations of how to get started are a boon for both beginners and those more experienced.

Barbara Harford-Silas likens her 5 hectare Hautere Plains property, with its own commercial kitchen, to a creative “jam central.” It’s here Barbara produces an eclectic range of delicious artisan preserves including vanilla strawberry jam, Moroccan peach chutney, fig and olive tapenade and preserved lemons. Be prepared to want to take some home!

The property is surrounded by tall stands of Totara and other native tree which make an ideal shelter for the established heritage orchard. Barbara has more recently begun establishing more trees as part of the Otaki Carbon Forests group and she will explain more about the aims of the group on the day

We begin with an introduction to Te Horo Harvest where Barbara will explain the evolution of the property. Billy will then take us on a ramble through the orchards and explain his approach to pruning, while demonstrating technique on various trees.

After lunch there will be opportunities to prune in the plum orchard. Please bring your favourite pruning tools but please ensure that they have been thoroughly cleaned to avoid transfer of disease. These will be checked before putting into use.

If the weather is wet there will be a postponement date of 6th July.

Programme (approx timing):

10.30 – 10.45pm: Arrival and check-in
10.45 – 11.00am: Welcome and introduction to the property
11.00am – 12.30pm: Assessing individual trees, the pruning approach
12.30 – 1.15pm: Lunch
1.15pm – 3.00pm: Tool check / practise pruning

What to bring:

Gumboots and warm clothes
lunch and a cup for tea/coffee, which will be provided
There will be some seating available but to be sure, you may like to bring your own seat.
Please also bring cleaned pruning tools if you have them.