Fruit Tree Grafting

Fruit trees have been grafted for centuries around the world, yet the number of people with this skill in the UK is diminishing year after year. In this workshop, led by Orchard Architect and Nurseryman Andy Howard of the Heritage Fruit Tree Co., you will learn how to graft your own fruit tree, giving you the skills needed to bring back this important rural skill.

We'll take a look at the hundreds of variety of fruit trees at FarmED and use some of these trees as genetic resources for grafting new trees. By the end of the course you will have learnt:

- The history of grafting and its importance today for fruit production

- How to select, collect and store “scion” wood and rootstocks for fruit tree grafting

- The differences between different types of fruit trees and what you can graft onto

- The types of rootstocks available and how they affect the tree you produce

- How to successfully graft your own fruit tree using more than one method

- Why a graft fails or succeeds and the aftercare required

Plus... you'll get to take home your very own grafted fruit tree!

We'll provide you with all the material you need as well as a hot seasonal lunch from the FarmEAT kitchen. All you need to bring is clothes suitable for getting a bit muddy and rained on (boots and gloves recommended!).

If you have your own secateurs or grafting knife please bring them along as the more practice with your own tools  the better grafter you will become (Andy recommends and uses an Opinel size 7 or 8 knife for grafting).

About the facilitator

Andy Howard is the founder and owner of the Heritage Fruit Tree Co. whose mission is to preserve, hand graft and grow the UK's national fruit heritage and to supply fruit with flavour. He is a fully qualified teacher (P.G.C.E. F.E.) and trainer and runs winter, summer, budding, grafting and orchard planning courses with community groups and individuals. Andy is a regular contributor to BBC Radio Oxford and Berks and has featured previously on BBC Radio 4 Farming Today and BBC One on "Apples: British to the Core" Andy also designed and supplied all the trees for FarmEd 300+ Heritage fruit tree Orchard and recently supplied trees for the agroforestry project in FarmED's CSA.

www.heritagefruittrees.co.uk

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Ticket Prices

Tickets include refreshments and a seasonal lunch from the FarmED Kitchen.

Delivery of our mission is a collective effort and our values embrace  inclusivity and diversity. We don’t want price to be a barrier to anyone visiting FarmED or attending our events. Read more about our tiered pricing policy here.

If cost is a barrier to you attending, then please do ask us for   financial support. The FarmED Bursary offers free or subsidised places to those that will benefit most.

More Information and Booking

For more information please email sophie@farm-ed.co.uk

Your booking is safe. If we cannot run any element of the training face to face due to Covid restrictions, you will be refunded or you can switch to an alternative date.