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Description
Poulton Hall has been the home of the Poulton Lancelyn family since the 12th century. The Walled Garden was built in the 19th Century and planted up by Rector Thomas in the gardenesque style. In the 20th Century the author and owner Roger Lancelyn Green and his wife June put their literary stamp on the garden with sculptures related to children’s authors such as Lewis Carroll and the “Inkling” school of Oxford including CS Lewis.
There are many espaliered apple trees lining the garden that are in need of remedial pruning to bring them back to their formal shape and intended dimensions. This is the second time we will have winter pruned this neglected row of cordoned apple and pear trees. A summer prune happened back in August, and there will be another summer prune in 2024. See how this gradual approach has resulted in healthy new growth and a slow improvement in the structure and appearance of these trees, as well as their ability to provide high quality fruit.
Kate Nicoll, the RM for the area was the Head Gardener at Attingham Park and restored or replanted all the wall fruit, espaliers and cordons. She was also the workshop co-ordinator and tutor on the CSGC trained fruit pruning day at Audley End in August 2022.
There will be an introductory talk, followed by a discussion and demonstration of the management and pruning of trained fruit trees. Attendees will be tutored in pruning techniques one-to-one and will carry out supervised pruning themselves, over the rest of the day. The garden will be closed to the public on this day, so you will be at liberty to enjoy (and have lunch in) the garden between the morning and afternoon work sessions.
We will work mainly from the ground but there might be some requirement to stand on a low platform to reach the top of the espaliers.
Refreshments will be provided (Tea/Coffee/Water & Biscuits), but please bring a picnic lunch.
Please bring suitable footwear, waterproofs & gloves, your own secateurs and pruning saws if you have them, be prepared to sharpen and sanitise them before use.
The cost of this PSD is £30.
