Course tutor

The course is led by fruit tree specialist Tom Nancarrow from Pip & Stone Fruit Tree Services, a specialist pruning and planting service of fruit trees and orchards. Tom also works for Adam’s Apples,, growing over 200 varieties of fruit trees on their nursery near Honiton.

Course detail

The course will be held at Trill Farm which has an apple and pear orchard.

Learn how to prune apple and pear trees for optimum tree health and quality fruit with this one-day practical course.

The day will start with some classroom-based discussion on why we prune fruit trees, outlining the key objectives and main aims. We will also discuss the best tools for the job.

Some tutor-led pruning demonstrations on apple and pear trees will then help you to see how the theory is applied in the orchard. Course participants will then have the chance to start pruning by themselves, with guidance and advice on hand.

We will be working on trees of different ages, the apples are around ten years old and the pears around four years old, giving you the opportunity to learn maintenance pruning of established fruit trees and formative pruning of younger trees.

As we will be working mostly outside please bring warm clothing and wet weather gear. Gloves are also highly recommended.

A limited number of secateurs and pruning saws will be available but please bring your own if you have any.

The course includes a lunch made by Chris at The Old Dairy Kitchen at Trill.

LANDWORKERS' ALLIANCE MEMBERS AND CSA FARM MEMBERS PLEASE CONTACT ashley@trillfarm.co.uk FOR A DISCOUNT