Sunday 27 May 2012
Headlines
Did you find this story interesting? (0) (0)
20/12/2004
Worcestershire fruit growers branch out into mistletoe and holly
Picture: David Spilsbury holding a bunch of mistletoe from his orchard
Mistletoe and holly by the hundredweight is making its way from a Worcestershire orchard to markets all over the Midlands.
David and Joyce Spilsbury of Oak Hill in the Terne Valley near Tenbury Wells, joined Defra's Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) in 1996 to restore their traditional apple orchards. Mistletoe is a parasitic plant with no roots of its own and lives off the tree that it attaches itself to.It grows most commonly on apple trees, and thrives in the Spilsburys' carefully and sensitively managed orchards. The female mistletoe with its bright white berries is in great demand from market traders across the region, while much of the berryless male mistletoe is fed to grazing sheep.
Under CSS, David Spilsbury has re-introduced the 100 different varieties of apple trees that grew in the orchard 150 years ago; and has added damson and cherry trees to the 25 different types of plum and pear trees already grown. Rare species of pear trees have been re-introduced, including the Worcester Black pear that stays fresh and firm over winter.
Restoration of the traditional orchard, meadow maintenance and hedgerow restoration has encouraged birds, wildlife and wild flowers. Wild birds include jackdaws, kingfishers, 'dabbly ducks' (little grebe), herons and three different species of woodpecker.
Wild flowers include the Common Spotted Orchid. Trees and hedgerows play host to many rare or declining species of fungi and a whole range of insects.
David has also re-introduced a small herd of fallow deer, which occupied the land when it was a deer park 700 years ago.
David Spilsbury said:
"Our environment and the countryside has a richness beyond financial consideration. We all have a responsibility to uphold the traditional values and standards that have ensured the survival of past, present and future generations.
Trina Collins, an adviser at Defra's Rural Development Service in the West Midlands, said:
"Mr and Mrs Spilsbury display a passionate empathy with the land and sympathetically manage it with the help of Defra's Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
"Defra is pleased to be able to contribute to that important process for the benefit of the region. Such valuable input from agreement holders is helping us to form new policies and develop schemes for 2005 and beyond."
 |
Mistletoe and holly by the hundredweight is making its way from a Worcestershire orchard to markets all over the Midlands.
David and Joyce Spilsbury of Oak Hill in the Terne Valley near Tenbury Wells, joined Defra's Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) in 1996 to restore their traditional apple orchards. Mistletoe is a parasitic plant with no roots of its own and lives off the tree that it attaches itself to.It grows most commonly on apple trees, and thrives in the Spilsburys' carefully and sensitively managed orchards. The female mistletoe with its bright white berries is in great demand from market traders across the region, while much of the berryless male mistletoe is fed to grazing sheep.
Under CSS, David Spilsbury has re-introduced the 100 different varieties of apple trees that grew in the orchard 150 years ago; and has added damson and cherry trees to the 25 different types of plum and pear trees already grown. Rare species of pear trees have been re-introduced, including the Worcester Black pear that stays fresh and firm over winter.
Restoration of the traditional orchard, meadow maintenance and hedgerow restoration has encouraged birds, wildlife and wild flowers. Wild birds include jackdaws, kingfishers, 'dabbly ducks' (little grebe), herons and three different species of woodpecker.
Wild flowers include the Common Spotted Orchid. Trees and hedgerows play host to many rare or declining species of fungi and a whole range of insects.
David has also re-introduced a small herd of fallow deer, which occupied the land when it was a deer park 700 years ago.
David Spilsbury said:
"Our environment and the countryside has a richness beyond financial consideration. We all have a responsibility to uphold the traditional values and standards that have ensured the survival of past, present and future generations.
Trina Collins, an adviser at Defra's Rural Development Service in the West Midlands, said:
"Mr and Mrs Spilsbury display a passionate empathy with the land and sympathetically manage it with the help of Defra's Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
"Defra is pleased to be able to contribute to that important process for the benefit of the region. Such valuable input from agreement holders is helping us to form new policies and develop schemes for 2005 and beyond."
No Comments
Nobody has posted any comments on this story.
|
Farming items for Sale
|
2009 - John Deere - 7530 Auto-Quad, 50 kph - Ballyclare
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
John Deere 4250 - Narberth(GBP 11400)
Used Quadtrac 450 STX - YORK(GBP 45000)
John Deere 6610 - Bruton(GBP 18000)
Used John Deere 6820 - Cheltenham(GBP 26500)
Related News
Apple grower branches out into new business - 04 Dec 2005Norfolk apple grower Ian Reed is pressing his own fruit juices for the first time, with help from Defra's Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES), administered ...
Bumper autumn for West Midlands soft fruit growers - 25 Nov 2005Strawberry and raspberry growers in Herefordshire and Worcestershire have experienced a bumper autumn harvest thanks to an inspired planting strategy ...
South African fruit growers to benefit from new insect mating disruption technology - 17 May 2006Photo: Martin Brown in an apple orchard in South Africa Exosect, a leading provider of environmentally conscious insect pest control, today announ...
Administrative nightmare for fruit and veg growers consigned to history - 17 Jun 2007Growers in England will no longer need the problematic fruit, vegetable and potato (FVP) authorisations when claiming payments under the single paymen...
Winter weed control option in top fruit, soft fruit, forestry and woody ornamentals - 08 Jan 2009Winter is the ideal time to apply soil-acting residual herbicides to top fruit, soft fruit, forestry and woody ornamentals. If you haven’t been...
Aviagen Turkeys acquires Holly Berry Hatcheries - 15 Nov 2011Aviagen Turkeys Ltd. are pleased to confirm the acquisition of Holly Berry Hatcheries Ltd. Aviagen Turkeys, under the Hockenhull Turkeys banner, have...
Worcestershire vegetable farmers find rare bumble bee - 04 Aug 2008Worcestershire vegetable growers Paul and Mike Southall, have miraculously brought back one of the UK’s most endangered species of bumblebee to ...
Worcestershire herd wins record hat trick at The Royal Show - 15 Jul 2009Picture from left to right: Judy Gardner, owner of Eckington Manor Farm and Cookery School Heather Jenkins of Waitrose, sponsors of the Royal Show&rsq...
Two Worcestershire farms to be sold at auction - 26 Jan 2012Two Worcestershire farms are planned to go under the hammer at a public auction in Kidderminster in April. Auctioneers Halls are anticipating huge...
Worcestershire tree event attracts expert speakers - 03 Apr 2012It is a measure of the importance of the topic that two of the CLA’s most prominent forestry and woodland experts will be speaking at Demystifyi...
