lovely old trees

I went along to along to a training workshop last Sunday out Wisbech way on Restorative Pruning of fruit trees, well apples and pears. After a bit of a chat it was off to look at some Bramley apple trees well over 100 years old and they were spectacular. Looked like wood pasture.

And what image came to mind straight off, Staverton Thicks. And if you dont know where they are or what is there it will mean more if you find out for yourself.

Then another reminder of veteran trees which these Bramleys have to be. First a Pheonix tree, in this case an old apple tree that fell over but stayed rooted and has regrown from the top of the laying down trunk. Then an apple tree that doesn't want to die and its not a willow. Another apple tree with most it well rotted away and gone, all there is is a thin tube or a small part of it and a branch coming of and its still solid and I hope it goes on for a few years yet.

All in all a great few hours in the fens on a cold day looking at some lovely old apple trees and finding out how to care for them, yes I know sad git, and doing a bit of pruning to try and help a few live longer.