Hard graft – locals branch out with a crash course in young tree techniques
A GROUP of people dedicated to seeing the Fowey estuary thrive with orchards, met for a workshop in Lostwithiel.
The church rooms saw 17 people from the Lostwithiel area, Liskeard and as far as Falmouth and Penzance learn grafting techniques from expert Ben Murell from Devon.
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Sara Smyth cuts a scion (branch) at the grafting class.
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Grafting teacher Ben Murrell (right) from the Bicton College, Devon with two pupils, Andrew Ormerod and Anne-Marie, who are about to learn the art of grafting.
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Some of the happy pupils who attended the Lostwithiel grafting class at the church rooms.
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Grafting class teacher Ben Murrell is pictured preparing a scion with hot wax prior to grafting it onto a rootstock.
The precise technique allows people to attach shoots to roots to encourage the growth of fruit trees.
The workshop was organised by Transition Lostwithiel – an action group keen to see people grow their own fruit in the area.
Transition member, activist and artist, Anne-Marie, 38, organised the event with Eden botanist Dr Andrew Omerod.
She said: "It was really good fun and there has been a lot of interest from people who want to grow their own fruit trees.
"By doing this you are reducing waste by growing varieties which you know people are going to like. We are also looking at reintroducing Cornish varieties which have gone out of fashion, as all you see are the same ones in supermarkets – like Golden Delicious and there are hundreds of varieties. It's about empowering people to take charge of their own food supply.
"A group of us plan to meet up this week to practise what we learned."
The class learned different grafting techniques including whip and tongue, splice and side grafting.
For more information about Transition Lostwithiel, e-mail Anne-Marie on am@transitionlostwithiel.org
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