PRESS RELEASE

Monday 15th October

An apple a day the Cheshire way
Apple Day – Sunday 21 October 2007

Cheshire is famous for its sumptuous orchards and, despite having been written off as “too far north ever to become important in fruit growing’’ in a 1930s Cheshire Life article, Cheshire Wildlife Trust reveals there is plenty to celebrate on Apple Day (21 October).

Cheshire plays host to both well-known and rare varieties of apple, some of which are a real treat and cannot be found on the supermarket shelf. These include wonderful sounding varieties such as the juicy George Cave and creamy Howgate Wonder. Cheshire’s association with the fruit of love has even spilled out from the orchard to influence place names, such as Applemarket Street in Northwich and Crabtree heath in Bickley.

However, there is cause for concern about the future of traditional orchards since they were listed as a priority habitat in the recently published Biodiversity Action Plan, meaning that orchards are at risk of declining if efforts are not made to maintain them.

So this year Cheshire Wildlife Trust is doing its utmost to ensure that the fruit bowl favourite gets to enjoy its moment in the spotlight on Apple Day.

Sue Tatman from Cheshire Wildlife Trust says: “It’s not just orchards that are declining in number; less and less people are planting fruit trees in their gardens, meaning they miss out on the beauty of the blossom in the spring and the tasty harvest in the autumn. This time of year is ideal for planting a fruit tree, and even better if it’s a native Cheshire variety.”

How to ensure your apple tree blossoms

• A variety such as the Katy, Ashmead’s Kernel or Fiesta would be ideal for a domestic garden as it won’t grow too large and yet will yield a good crop of fruit.
• About two weeks before planting dig a hole twice the size of the root system so the soil has time to settle.
• Locate a sunny spot that is not prone to water logging or becoming a frost-pocket.
• Shelter young trees with fencing, hedging or a wind break if planting in a areas prone to wind.
• Leave enough space between trees, this can range from 2-3 feet for a small cordon trees and up to 30 feet for a large standard trees.
• If there is a period with no rain, give young trees a soaking from time to time.
• Some apples with an acidic taste that seem inedible may become tasty after a few months in storage so it might be worth doing research in to the variety you are growing.
  

And you won’t be the only one to enjoy the fruits of your labour, with windfall apples reintroducing valuable nutrients back in to the soil and providing a good food source for butterflies.

Ends