Category: Food

New orchard at Tyne Green

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On the 24th March 13 trees – 11 apple and 2 plum – were successfully planted in our new mini orchard on Tyne green. This is part of our ongoing commitment to encourage people to grow their own food – to help reduce food miles and to demonstrate how easy it is to ‘grow your own. ‘  In Victorian times Hexham was famous for its orchards , we hope to renew that fame.

Many thanks to our wonderful band of volunteers and to the Lions who provided much needed rocks for a barrier against marauding cars and helped plant the trees too. The orchard is at the far end of Tyne green, at the far side of the car park by café Enna.

In years to come the fruit will be free for everyone to harvest. The surplus (if any !) will be crushed for juice at our annual Farmers market apple pressing day at the Farmers market.  Check it out and enjoy the harvest !!

Planting an apple

Edible Hexham – prizewinners !

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On the 5th July four stalwart members of Edible Hexham travelled to Alnwick Gardens to learn they had been awarded first prize in the ‘Urban” category of the annual NCC competition ‘Love Northumberland”

Pictured receiving their certificate and award of 350 pounds from the Duchess of Alnwick are Elizabeth Leonard, Sue Hick, Rosemary Theobalds and Wendy Breach.

The awards are given every year to community groups and schools for their work in the environment in Northumberland and improving their local area and community.

The prize money will be put towards more herbs and veg for new planters in 2018 amd for extra signage.

Congratulations to all !

Annual plant swop stall

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tt-seedling-swap-2017 (2) (1)

Oue annual plant swop stall at the farmers market will this year be on May 13th. Bring any  spare veg, or fruit seedlings or seeds to the stall to swop with something you don’t have. This is a good chance to try something knew or replace failed crops, you never know what you might find !

This year we are also asking for pollination plants for bees and other insects. If you have nothing to swop don’t worry – just give a donation !

 

New Edible Hexham bed planted

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On March 4th the great Edible Hexham volunteers planted up the 3rd bed at the exit of the Wentworth car park. The latest bed has 2 apple trees, black and redcurrants, gooseberries and strawberries in it – lots of delicious fruit for everyone to try.

Hexham was once a famous fruit growing area with many market gardens and orchards – in fact the present Wentworth car park is built upon former allotments and Tesco was a market garden and nursery only 30 years ago. Our 3 Wentworth beds are a tribute to these days and a reminder that anyone can grow their own fruit on their own garden–its so easy !

Many  thanks are due yet again to Ted and Angus, Matty, Roger and Phil for their great efforts. We are always looking for more volunteers so if you are interested in helping please email Sue at suehick3@gmail.com

 

3rd wentworth bed empty
before

 

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planted !

 

3rd ww bed 2
Congratulations on a job well done ! Time for a well earned cuppa!

 

New Orchard for Acomb

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Tynedale was once a thriving fruit growing area but with the march of supermarkets and the ‘perfect’ red apple most local orchards have been lost and yet another connection to the source of our food gone. We aim to replace some of these orchards and show that local apples are easy to grow and help to build resilience into our local food supply. Why go to the supermarket when you can get and grow local supplies ?

What better place to start than in a school ?

Saturday 26h November saw 4 hardy Transition volunteers join parents, children and headteacher Angela of Acomb First School come together to plant 14 trees donated by Transition Tynedale. These were given for a new school orchard in the school grounds where they will provide not only a delicious harvest in the future but also a valuable learning environment or ‘outdoor classroom’ for the children.

Many thanks to Matty for organising this and to Gareth, Sue and Phil for help planting the trees. More tree planting days are planned in Hexham in 2017 and if anyone has suggestions for areas which could benefit from fruit trees then please get in touch.

 

Tynedale Fruit Map

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Tynedale Fruit Mapapple-and-pear-pic

The new google map is now available for public view to help you all find free fruit in the hedges and fields of Tynedale. The map is ongoing. Everyone is encouraged to send in findings of new trees  and they will be entered onto the map. Click on the link above to access the map.

Please keep your eyes open for fruit trees when out and about and send details of type of tree (apple / pear/ plum etc) and location to me at suehick3@gmail.com  and I will enter them.

This year is a bumper crop for fruit – happy  foraging !!

Sue Hick

Apple Day Oct 8th

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apple

Apples and bottles wanted for Apple Day , Oct 8th

This day is an annual event at the Farmers Market. Every year TT are invited to participate and we hold an apple pressing stall. Some of the juice produced is given away to shoppers and the surplus ( if any! ) bottled to drink later.

This year we intend holding the stall again – so please start collecting your surplus apples and empty plastic bottles to put the juice in. Windfalls are welcomed – any variety – cookers and eaters – as they will be mixed and crushed together. Bring your windfalls and turn them into delcious juice!

Volunteers to help on the day are also needed. Please contact  Sue if you can help. Email : info@transitiontynedale.org

Tynedale Fruit Map

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For fruit foragers – the Tynedale Fruit Map !

2016 promises yet again to be a bumper year for fruit and yet again a lot of this will not be harvested and go to waste unless picked and processed. To encourage people to find and harvest the fruit trees we are planning to map the location of all fruit trees on public land, beside roads etc – anywhere that people are welcome to collect free fruit.

Do you know of any ‘wild’ trees or trees on public land that are freely accessible? If so please send details of the type of fruit and location and we will enter it on a google map for all to see. Fruit can include apples and pears, crabapples, damsons, sloes etc but not blackberries, mushrooms etc .

Please send info to : suehick3@gmail.com or a member of the Edible Hexham group

Many thanks and happy foraging !

 

Community garden clearup

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Sat 17th Sept :   HMS community garden Big Autumn Clear Upf643b1e07496f8f6cbdc8a989e5cc86f     10.30 – 4pm

     Please come and help harvest produce and tidy up for early Autumn . Jobs include :
      – : Harvesting the last potatoes
           Tidying the herbaceous border
            Preparing a new area for 2017 ( previously asparagus )
            Pruning fruit bushes
            Cutting the hedge ( if not done by the school )
           – Any others that need doing !
Something for everyone including children !  Please come for as long as you can and bring a packed lunch . Tea and cakes provided in the afternoon.  All welcome.
If you have not been before this is an opportunity to see what has been happening all year, get involved, introduce friends etc.And have fun doing it !