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left26860500Ovingham Community OrchardChair’s Report for Annual General Meeting 9th February 2020The orchard has now been established for a full year and what a year it has been. We have managed to achieve most of our goals and OCO has been well received and supported by the village. We have been lucky in that the weather has been generally kind to us, with the sun shining on most of our events, and the apple trees thriving and growing well. Here is a summary of the year’s activities: February/March – A row of Autumn raspberries was added at the top of the field. Mandy and Kate organised an assembly at the Middle School to tell them more about the project.April – Dawn Chorus Gathering at the field, with bird walk and breakfast after. A website was also set up to publicise OCO and to document our progress.May – A screen printing workshop was held with members of Ovingham Craft Group, resulting in some splendid bags which were then sold at the Goose Fair. Ovingham First Cubs came and made a Bug Hotel near the gate and the First School made name labels for all the trees.June – Pupils from the Middle School designed and made an OCO sign for the gate. OCO ran the Singin’ Hinnie Stall at the Goose Fair as well as having its own stall. All excellent publicity, and there was a quiz and turf-lifting activity on the field with lots of people wandering down to take a look.July – A second plant and insect survey was carried out by supporters, and we were surprised at the diversity of plants and flowers found in the meadow.August – We had our first apples – a wonderful sight!September – Members of Jesmond Orchard came for a visit, and the whole field was cut and baled. A joint BBQ was held on the field with the Allotments Association.October – A patch near the raspberries was sown with native wildflower seeds to try to improve the diversity of flowering plants to encourage insects.November – Six gooseberry plants were added, having been moved from Keith’s Allotment plot. Pupils from the First School made some wonderful Insect and Bug tree dressings and came down on Tree Dressing Day to hang them and celebrate the trees. They also helped put in some rows of Willow whips as a test to see which varieties the rabbits like least!December – At the beginning of Tree Week the orchard was expanded by planting a small ‘copse’ of 8 trees (including plums, cherries, hazels and a medlar) in the bottom corner, and 4 apple trees were planted on an ‘espalier frame’ for training. A wonderful Oak log seat was installed with a splendid view over the orchard.January – A festive Apple Wassailing Event was held with singing, mulled cider, cake and tree toasting, over 60 people came, fantastic. Some more raspberries were planted to fill in some gaps. The apple trees were given their first winter prune by an enthusiastic group of beginners ably taught by Tom Martin. And… snowdrops planted last year are coming up!Throughout the year occasional work parties have met to tackle maintenance jobs needing doing, and we have now had a full year of meadow grass cutting and are beginning to understand how to manage the field for the benefit of our wild flowers, grasses and wildlife. It will be an on-going learning process.So, what a lot has been achieved and we now looking forward to seeing how the Orchard grows and develops over the next year. A plan for 2020 is being discussed at this meeting.Thanks again go to OCO Committee members for all they do, and to supporters who have turned out to provide practical help, and to those in the village who have been so encouraging and supportive of the Orchard. Also, to all those who continue to be a ‘Financial Friend’ of the Orchard, many thanks.Special thanks must go to:Hazel Chalmers who was the leading light in establishing the orchardChristine Hewit for her help and expertise with setting up the WebsiteChristine Haworth for her time in verifying the accountsIan Todd for his guidance on field maintenance and for his hay making skillsGill Thompson for her help with the surveyOvingham First and Middle School Staff and pupils for their enthusiastic supportTina Young and Ovingham First Cubs for their helpTom Martin for his enthusiasm and expertise in all thingsPeter Cunliffe of Northumbrian Landscaping Ltd for making our wonderful seatKeren Banning and The Clara Vale Voices and Prudhoe Singers for their Wassailing SongsAnd thanks to those that provided funds:The Tree Council for providing funds to replace the rabbit damaged trees.Northumberland Council’s Community Chest Fund, for a grant for the seat.Essity Ltd for a grant towards the cost of the new treesOCO Website address: Broadhurst7/2/20 ................
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